Citrus festival kicks off

Region is known for the quality of its kinnows

SARGODHA:

Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture (NH&C) Jamal Shah, Secretary NH&C Humaira Ahmed and Sargodha Division Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti inaugurated the two-day National Citrus Festival on Thursday, which is being hosted by the Sargodha Arts Council. Director General Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Ayub Jamali, Executive Director Lok Virsa Uzair Khan, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Dr Najeeba Arif and other figures were also present.

The minister announced that the National Heritage and Culture Division, in collaboration with the Government of Punjab, was organising the National Citrus Festival on January 18th and 19h. He added that Sargodha served as the backdrop to celebrate the nation's diverse citrus heritage given its reputation as a major citrus producing hub.

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The festival would not only showcase the economic and agricultural significance of citrus, but also to promote social cohesion and a strong sense of national identity.

In his welcome address, Commissioner Sargodha Division Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti said that Sargodha was a major citrus producing city thanks to its favourable weather conditions for growing the best quality kinnow.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2024.