‘Keeping parks closed is not in public interest’

Raising concerns that keeping public parks closed was not in the people's interest, the National Forum for Environment and Health urged the Sindh government to order their reopening of public parks - conditional on the implementation of pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

In a statement issued on Friday, NFEH president Naeem Qureshi opined that keeping public parks and other recreational facilities closed could not be justified when multiple other sectors were allowed to resume operations, though in line with coronavirus-related SOPs.

"Parks are supposed to play an important role in the lives of Karachiites, helping them maintain [good] health and [stay] fit, and so, keeping them shut for a long time is not right," he said.

He went on to say that keeping recreational spots closed for public would not help the government in the fight against the coronavirus.

"Parks are open-air, green and healthy spaces in urban areas, [which] help in strengthening immune systems and the health of those frequenting these places," he said, adding that spending time in green spaces also boosted respiratory health. "And the stronger the respiratory system, the easier the recovery from Covid-19," he claimed.

However, he also stressed that the proper implementation of SOPs should be ensured at recreational facilities before they were opened to the public. He called for the adoption of a mechanism to oblige the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and district municipal corporations to implement SOPs in parks in their respective jurisdictions.

"We should keep in mind that public parks, by virtue of their design and structure, provide ample opportunity to ensure social distancing if the number of visitors allowed entry to parks at a time is limited," he pointed out.

He urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to consult municipal bodies and the Karachi mayor on the matter and make a decision about it.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2020.