Twin cities’ parks wear desolate look

Orders for early closure dampen recreational activities

RAWALPINDI:

The early closure of parks to stem second wave of coronavirus pandemic has dampened the recreational and commercial activities at these public places.

The owners of tuck shops and vendors working near and around public parks of the twin cities told The Express Tribune on Saturday that they had just started to come out of the losses suffered during the general lockdown imposed earlier this year.

As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for preventing virus spread during the second wave of coronavirus, around 60 big and small parks and recreational sites in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been ordered to shut down at 6pm.

The SOPs have not just brought a hiatus in recreational activities but affected the small vendors who rely on the meagre income generated from the parks’ visitors.

With the sunset, the twin cities started looking gloomy with empty parks and recreational sites whose glim had returned after so many months. The families have stopped visiting parks because of the time constraints, subsequently, the income for the amusement ride owners and those who have kiosks have come to a halt.

The ride owners including Mohammad Riaz and Sohail Abbasi said that they remained cash-strapped due to the closure of the parks from March to September due to coronavirus lockdown.

However, after a few months, their sufferings have started again due to the new closure orders. They claimed the reduction in their incomes to be more than 60 percent as the parks get closed before the peak hours.

Similarly, tuck shop owners including Asad Khan and Wajid said that their earning had also been affected. They prayed for the eradication of coronavirus so that their sufferings end soon and they become able to make both ends meet. After remaining shut for two-and-a-half months, Punjab government had opened parks across the province including Rawalpindi but made it compulsory for the people to wear face masks and gloves while entering the parks.

The provincial government closed down the parks and recreational sites across the province in March end due to spread of coronavirus.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has listed non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPIs) to stem the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. NCOC has recently disclosed that the average positivity rate of the disease had risen by 40%. The national body on the country’s coronavirus response was also expressed its concerns over the increasing number of hospital admissions and deaths from the virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2020.