The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have a number of recreational and tourist spots, but Lake View Park was found to be the most visited place after 40,000 people thronged the park on the third day of Eidul Azha on Saturday.

A large number of people, who visited the park with their families and friends, spent time in the park enjoying barbecue parties, boat riding and celebrating the religious festival with different cultural activities.

With its spacious location at the shores of Rawal Dam, Lake View Park has started attracting more visitors than other public parks and picnic spots during the past few years. Traditionally, people used to go to Ayub National Park and Nawaz Sharif Park but now both the places seem too crowded and there is little for enjoyment.

There are also other attractions in the federal capital, including Daman-i-Koh, Japanese Park and various hiking tracks up to Pir Sohawa. However, Lake View Park has all the facilities available in one spot, thus making it the most attractive place for visitors.

Having spent the first day of Eid on Thursday slaughtering animals and greeting relatives and friends, citizens were seen flocking numerous parks on the second and third day of Eid.

All amusement parks remained open from 8am to 1:30am during Eid holidays as children enjoyed rides, swings, boating and riding, dodging cars and horses and camel rides. Families and children also enjoyed mini-train rides while children enjoyed themselves by taking pictures with caged animals in zoos and parks.

At Ayub National Park in Rawalpindi, families were seen boating and riding motor boats while children enjoyed the waterfall in Joyland.

Besides Ayub National Park, other parks, including Jinnah Park, Rumi Park, Ladies Park, Children’s Park, Dhoke Munshi Park, Allama Iqbal Park, Pir Sohawa, Loye Dandi and other places also remained flooded with visitors during the Eid holidays.

Lack of facilities

At some places, people were found complaining about lack of facilities at the parks and high rates of edibles at canteens and cafeterias. They were also irritated while paying extra money for parking facilities at most of the parks.

They were of the view that the government should make entry to all parks with parking facilities free and the prices of all items at canteens should be checked and controlled by the authorities concerned, so that the people could enjoy.

Special security arrangements were seen outside the parks for the protection of the visitors. But the public transporters, including taxi and rickshaw drivers, fleeced the people and charged fares at their own will.

Similarly, snacks like chips, biscuits, burgers, soft drinks, mineral water and other items were sold almost at double prices in the parks as compared to open markets.

People also complained about the Auto Teller Machines (ATMs) of various banks which remained out of order during Eid holidays creating hardships for the people.

The fruit and vegetable sellers charged exorbitant rates.

Police actions

According to a police spokesman, the authorities also launched a crackdown on one-wheeling, over speeding, and negligent motorcyclists on the occasion of Chand Raat and Eid holidays.

The police claimed to have taken action against 77 underage drivers involved in one-wheeling and rash driving.

The spokesman informed that six special squads were formed while 35 police pickets were also set up to control one-wheeling and other traffic rules violations.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023