Long holiday: Pleasant weather adds to Eid festivities

Metro buses packed with commuters, severe traffic jams at Murree Road

ISLAMABAD: Early morning rain on the second day of Eid on Saturday turned the weather pleasant in the twin cities, giving a chance to residents and tourists to enjoy the holidays.      

Taking advantage of the weather, people thronged parks and public places to celebrate Eid.

On the first day of Eid, people remained busy in meeting and greeting relatives and friends and turned to recreational places on the second day.

Light rain on Sunday evening turned the weather pleasant and hundreds of fun-seekers were seen visiting the national monument on Kashmir Highway, Marghazar Zoo, Shakarparian and Lake View Park, among other spots. Fatima Jinnah Park, Daman-e-Koh and Faisal Mosque were other ‘must-see’ places for visitors.

In Rawalpindi, Jinnah Park, and Rawal Dam Park, Nawaz Sharif Park and Family Park witnessed an influx of people on Eid.

Meanwhile, as part of security measures, the Islamabad Police had put a comprehensive security plan in place for Eid by deploying additional security personnel at different points. However, the traffic police failed to manage the traffic load.

Public hospitals of the capital reported hundreds of injuries of bikers who indulged in rash driving and one-wheeling in the city.

Metro mania

The newly-launched Metro Bus Service was flooded with commuters during the Eid holiday and people complained of the buses being over-packed.

An in-charge of the ticket counter at Rehmanabad station in Rawalpindi said in the first two days of Eid, he sold around 2,500 tickets during his shift from 2pm to 11pm.

Another official at the station said 150-200 passengers were stuffed inside a single bus.

A passenger, Aimen, said it is the “best facility but has many problems. People are also misusing it, since they buy one ticket and keep roaming around without leaving the station.”

A family which got on the bust from the Waris Khan station had to disembark at the Rehmanabad station as they could not deal with the suffocation on the bus.

A number of commuters complained of lack of seats, saying there was ample room for standing but very little for sitting.

Officials of the metro bus authority spoke on the condition of anonymity saying they were under strict orders not to talk to the media.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2015.