Taking a dip: Locals throng swimming pools, canals in Peshawar

Those who cannot afford have to dive in canals

PESHAWAR: Rising temperatures have heightened  the need to create spaces where locals can escape the blazing heat. This has given owners of swimming pools in the city to capitalise on the advantage.

People throng to swimming pools in various areas of Peshawar, including Warsak Road, Hayatabad, Faqirabad and Cantt, where they pay for an entry ticket ranging from Rs100 to Rs500 per person. These spots provide much-needed respite for locals that some go there in the morning and leave in the evening, before iftar.

“I’m enjoying a lot here,” a 10 grade student, Amjid, told The Express Tribune, wiping drops of water falling from his hair on his face. “Since it’s Ramazan and I’m fasting, it’s better for me to come here and take a dip instead of sitting idle at home.”

A cheap substitute

Those who cannot afford the expensive entry tickets of swimming pools have found a suitable alternative – they have opted for canals instead. Those canals are not so clean but they are absolutely free. Boys can be seen splashing water on each other nowadays in canals dotting various parts of the city.

“After spending the whole day at a workshop, I come here to refresh myself,” said a resident of Afghan Colony, Said Rasool, who was near a canal in his locality.

“Massive load-shedding in our area has almost ruined our life, it is really difficult to spend time at home without even electricity to run the fan, so we come here and take bath in this canal.”

Elsewhere for respite

Swimming pools, canals rivers by Sardaryab and near Nowshera are crowded with people. People from different areas of Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera visit these river banks with families, even with eatables as iftari.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2016.