KARACHI: Amidst an uncertain security situation in the metropolis, the four-day 66th Pakistan Annual Flower Show, which usually attracts horticulture enthusiasts from across the city, kicked off to a subdued start on Thursday.

The flower show will continue till Feb 26.

Organised by the Horticultural Society of Pakistan, the flower show is being held at the DHA Seaview Park adjacent to an outlet of a fast-food chain.

Held in collaboration with the Defence Housing Authority and the Cantonment Board Clifton, the prize distribution ceremony of the event was cancelled. Salman Khan, one of the organisers of the event, said the prize distribution ceremony would be organised soon. It was cancelled due to the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code four days ago, he said.

`We want to ensure that we follow rules and we have decided to organise the prize ceremony soon. We have many winners; some of them have been winning consecutively for the past three years,` he added.

Over a 100 participants showcased flower displays at the venue. The Pakistan Bonsai Society, the Floral Art Society of Pakistan, the Ladies Horticultural Club and the Amateur Gardener`s Club, among others, are participating in the flower show.

The starting timing for the event was set at 4pm and visitors began arriving by 4.45pm. But due to the heavy contingent of the law-enforcement authorities manning the gates and the vicinity of the venue, there was a slight confusion among guards at the gate.

They allowed half of the people in, whereas the remaining people were asked to come by 8pm. One of the visitors, who was standing at the gates, said: `I was told that the show will begin by 6pm and not 4pm.

Despite the confusion at the gates, many visitors found their way to the exhibition and looked at the various colourful flower displays spread across the venue. Apart from flowers, there were stalls with gardening equipment, outdoor furniture and floor boards for patios.

Since the prize distribution ceremony was cancelled for the day, a list of winners was distributed to the media. Among the winners, in the Schools Floral Competition Class IV-VI, were Fatima Salman and Mohammed Shoaib, gaining first prize. Zeeshan and Sameer Abid Sayeed got second prize and Khizra Imran and Aleena Afridi gained third prize.