SUKKUR: The historic 146th ‘Sindh Horse and Cattle Show’ concluded after a colourful and eventful day which saw traditional competitions of bulls, horses and camels racing in Jacobabad on Saturday.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah who was chief guest at the concluding ceremony said in his address at the gathering that the horse and cattle show was an old traditional event which he had been coming to since his childhood.

He said that he enjoyed witnessing different events including racing of bulls, horses and camels and particularly their dances. The traditional show had attained the status of a national asset, he said, adding the show organisers needed to introduce some new things in keeping with the spirit of changing times.

He said the Sindh government had allocated hefty funds for such shows. The stage and ground would be built for spectators and enclosures for animals coming from other areas to take part in the show, he said.

He said that participants of the show, their animals and spectators would be provided all facilities. Officers concerned should work on such schemes and communicate them to him so that they could be completed well before such shows were organised in future, he said.

He said the PPP government was serving people with great passion and it hoped to win next elections on the basis of its performance. Provision of healthy recreation and development works to people were the government’s responsibility, he said.

Earlier, the chief minister was presented a traditional turban by Sindh Minister for Population Mir Mumtaz Jakhrani when he arrived at Mehar Shah ground to witness races of horses and bulls and the animals’ dancing to drumbeats. He gave away prizes and cash rewards among winners while Mir Nisar Khan Khoso presented a shotgun to the chief minister on winning shooting competition.

The chief minister took a ride on a horse named ‘Commando’. He was all smiles as he went round the ground but dismounted after five minutes.

Mr Shah spent an eventful day in Jacobabad after his arrival at 9.45 am through a special flight at Shahbaz Airbase where he was welcomed by PPP elected representatives, leaders and government functionaries.

Strict security arrangements had been made throughout Jacobabad city during the show.

PPP MNA Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, provincial ministers Mumtaz Hussain Jakh­rani, Imdad Ali Pitafi, Moh­am­mad Ali Malkani, MPA Dr Sohrab Sarki, Jacobabad municipal committee chairman Ghulam Abbas Jakh­rani, Larkana Commissioner Mohammad Abbas Baloch and government officers concerned were also among those who attended the show.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018