Eid holidays: Citizens swarm parks, zoo following rain

Nearly 180,000 people visited zoo from Wednesday to Friday

LAHORE: A large number of citizens visited recreational places, including parks and the zoo, following rain in the City.

Lahore Zoo Director Chaudhry Shafqat Ali said nearly 180,000 people had visited the zoo from Wednesday to Friday. He said the zoo had earned nearly Rs6.8 million from tickets. The administration said it had opened additional ticket booths to deal with the rush of visitors.

Talha, one of the young visitors, said the zoo was his favorite recreational place. “I can see a variety of animals there. I have come to see lions in particular and ride an elephant,” said Talha standing next to a monkeys’ enclosure.

“This is among the favourite picnic spots of my children. They are excited to see wild animals. A visit to the zoo helps one learn about the habits and behaviour of wild animals,” said a woman who was visiting the zoo with her children.

Sightseeing Lahore, the tourist bus service, remained another attraction during Eid holidays. The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) operated four bus tours a day during the holidays. Managing Director Ahmar Malik told The Express Tribune that nearly 900 citizens took a ride on double-decker buses. He said public response had been great. He said more buses were being acquired and new routes would be introduced.

A large number of citizens also visited Racecourse Park, Lawrence Garden, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park and Minar-i-Pakistan.

Security

Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Mian Shakeel Ahmad said the authority had installed CCTV cameras, walkthrough gates and barbed wires at major parks before Eid. Special police squads and security guards had been deployed at public parks.

Punjab Wildlife and Parks Director General Khalid Ayaz Khan inspected security arrangements at the zoo. He said six walkthrough gates had been installed at the zoo.

Security guards had been deployed to check visitors using metal detectors. He said apart from officials of the Wildlife Department, 120 security officials were deputed at the zoo.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2016.