Nine Boys Scouts Associations from the four provinces, Islamabad, AJK, Northern Areas, PIA and Pakistan Railways are representing over 0.5 million boy scouts from across the country at the 6-day long Jamboree.
Besides, boy scouts from neighbouring Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are also attending the event. A 120-member contingent of scouts from India is scheduled to arrive on Sunday.
The National Scout Jamboree is taking place after a gap of 10 years. The National Jamboree is normally held every after four years. The last Jamboree was held in Quetta.
Education Minister Zobaida Jalal declared the 13th Jamboree open here which was attended by a large number of people.
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali in their separate messages to the special edition of Pak Scout magazine on the occasion of 13th Jamboree congratulated the scouts and wished them great success.
President Musharraf expressed the confidence that the Jamboree would be source of great inspiration for the young scouts and leaders attending the event. He also strongly endorsed the Jamboree theme of Scouting for Global Peace for being most appropriate and a need of the time.
Prime Minister Jamali highly praised the dedication of boys scouts in Pakistan. He said the youth of Pakistan occupy a place of vantage in the government schemes and projects.
A number of events had been organised for the opening day that included the Commando race, tableaus and presentation of national songs by different scouts associations. Ms. Zobaida Jalal, who is also the chief commissioner Pakistan Boys Scouts Association lauded the dedication with which the scouts were serving the nation. She praised their contribution for promotion of peace.
She announced a grant of Rs 20 million for the establishment of Scouts Resource Development Centre in Islamabad which will include, swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis and volley-ball courts etc.