BAHAWALPUR, Oct 1: Corps Commander Lt-Gen Syed Pervez Shahid inaugurated a two-day Cholistan heritage festival at Noor Mahal Palace of the late Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Abbasi V here on Friday.

The festival is being organized by the Caravan Pakistan Heritage Foundation, the district government, the Unesco and coordinated by Corps Headquarters, Bahawalpur. In his address, the Corps Commander said the Cholistan desert was rich in historic and cultural heritage.

He said the late Nawab's Palaces and other historic buildings of the defunct state's period were rare symbols of Cholistan's civilization which needed preservation.

He responded positively to the desire of District Nazim Tariq Cheema that the army, the custodians of these rare buildings, would consider opening the historic buildings for children and public at least once a week.

The chief guest lauded the services of Caravan Pakistan Heritage chairperson Ms Yasmeen Lari. He said the preservation of national heritage and that of defunct state's particularly of Cholistan was our joint responsibility and this festival would prove a milestone in achieving this objective.

Later, the Corps Commander visited the stalls of heritage paintings arranged by children of over 20 schools and gave away the prizes among the winners. Earlier, District Nazim Tariq Cheema in his welcome address expressed the hope that the festival would go a long way to project and introduce Cholistan's culture and civilization.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Yasmeen Lari called upon the heritage lovers to come forward for the preservation of Cholistan's heritage. Caravan's events committee chairperson Ms Shahnaz Ramzi in her speech briefed the audience about children's paintings and expressed her vote of thanks.

The second function of the festival will be held at Darbar Mahal of the late Nawab on Saturday (today). Punjab Education Minister Imran Masood is expected to distribute the awards. The Caravan Heritage Foundation members will also visit the historic Derawar Fort on Sunday.