Multan pools offer respite from searing heat

Pool owners charge Rs50-Rs2,000 for one time bath

MULTAN:

In order to beat the scorching in Multan, people especially the youth have thronged swimming pools, hand pumps and tubewells situated in the city and its surrounding areas.

Scores of people went to the swimming pools in different parts of city and the owners were charging Rs50 to Rs2,000 for one time bath. Multan is also famous for its pious saints and ‘king of fruits’ mango.

Besides this, the city is often referred to as ‘The Mango city’ as its stiflingly hot climate provides banana, strawberry and grapes among popular fruits grown in the area.

The youth also rushed to agriculture farms and mango orchards of farmers in order to bath at the tubewells.

Khalid Hussain, a youth who also bathed in tubewell said that swimming was the only way to protect themselves from the hottest summer days in Multan. He also stated that bathing at swimming pools not only protect from the heat but also provide a recreational activity for the youth to spend time with friends.

Speaking to the APP, another youth Ghulam Muhammad said they had to pay fee for bathing at swimming pools. He further said, “We cannot afford Rs300 to Rs500 for swimming in the pool.

Ghulam requested the government to allocate funds for swimming pools as well as for parks as it would be easy for the people to entertain themselves through the pools and also get respite from the city’s scorching heat.

He added that the administration of swimming pool in Multan Nishtar Hostel was charging Rs100 for one time bath while charges of swimming pools at hotels was around Rs2,000.

Ehsan Ahmed, a local progressive farmer and resident of Shujaabad village said, “Some other people also want to bathe and enjoy at tubewells. Hundreds of tubewells are operating these days in the area and almost every tubewell is crowded with people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2021.