LAHORE, Feb 14: Punjab Local Government Minister Raja Basharat on Friday inaugurated the Nishtar Town Spring and Sports Festival by watching a tug-of-war, a kabbadi match and a gymnastic show by Raiwind school students at the Kothay Pind ground in Faisal Town.

Announcing details of the festival, Town Nazim Maj Rafiq Hasrat (retired) said cricket matches between teams of the town union councils would be held at the Kothay Pind, Minhajul Quran and Model Town Green Ground till Feb 22, football matches till Feb 20, kabbadi matches till Feb 19, volleyball matches at the Nespak ground in Model Town Extension till Feb 21, hockey matches at the Punjab School ground and Rehmat Memorial Trust ground in Township till Feb 20 and tug-of-war at Kotha Pind ground from Feb 13 to 18.

He said the volleyball final match would be held at Nespak ground on Feb 25, football, tug-of-war, kabbadi and cricket finals at Kothay Pind ground on Feb 26, 27 and 28, respectively. A food Mela and an industrial exhibition would be also held at the ground.

He said a wrestling championship would be held at the Kothay Pind ground on March 5, a students race from Barkat Market, Garden Town, to Kothay Pind ground the same day, a photography competition on March 15, a declamation contest at Township High School on March 22 and a humorous 'mushaira' at the Model Town Park on April 3. The lady councillors planned to organize a dress show and a meena bazaar.

The Nazim said a tree plantation campaign would also be inaugurated at the re-designed Hamdard Chowk on Feb 18. Encroachments around the chowk had been removed.