Parks bustle with families

Visitors were charged exorbitantly for swings, food and parking

RAWALPINDI:

The recreational places including parks and hill stations witnessed an overwhelming rush of families in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in three holidays of Eidul Fitr. A good number of families from both cities visited the hill stations of Murree and Galiyat to enjoy Eid fun amid pleasant weather.

Children, accompanied by their parents, enjoyed various activities including swings, riding cars, camel rides, train rides, and their favourite foods. These attractions remained the focal point of the children's interest, with much excitement and laughter, while beautiful landscapes were captured in numerous photographs.

The historic Ayub National Park in Rawalpindi, along with Joyland, Rawal Road Park, Pothohar Park, Allama Iqbal Park on Murree Road, Race Course Park, Rumi Park, and several other parks, saw a huge influx of families. At Ayub National Park, attractions like the Jungle Kingdom, Haunted House, train ride, zip ride, the historic Bara Dari, boat rides on the lake, and the zoo were major draws for children. Various swings also kept the children engaged. The food centres and hotels at Ayub National Park, offering a variety of cuisines, were also bustling with visitors who ordered and enjoyed their favorite foods.

Similarly, other parks in the city and cantonment areas experienced a great deal of activity. Security arrangements were made at all entrance and exit points, as well as throughout the internal areas of the parks.

The flow of visitors to the parks began at 1pm on the first day of Eid and continued until the third day. After 10pm each night, citizens gradually returned home. Parents remarked that their children thoroughly enjoyed their time in the parks.

Compared to previous years, the beautification, decoration, and special lighting at the parks this year were exceptional, which kept both children and adults engaged and allowed them to spend more time in the parks.

Visitors of the amusement parks were charged hefty parking fees for cars and motorcycles, and the costs for rides, boat rides, and the Jungle Kingdom were significantly high. The citizens were also heavily charged for local snacks like chaat, nimko, gol gappay, drinks, and traditional foods, further draining their pockets. Compared to the open market, food and drink prices in the parks were almost double.

Citizens complained about the parking fees, which were Rs150 for cars and Rs100 for motorcycles. A large drink bottle was sold for Rs250, a smaller one for Rs100, and gol gappay were priced at Rs250 per plate.

The ticket prices for rides such as swings, horse rides, and the monorail ranged from Rs200 to Rs300, while boat rides cost Rs700 to Rs800 per person. Dodgem car rides were charged at Rs350. Meanwhile, transporters, including taxis, rickshaws, and motorbikes, also charged inflated fares, with fares of Rs200 being charged instead of the usual Rs100.

Children enjoyed themselves, playing and having fun on the swings. Some drove dodgem cars, others enjoyed the monorail, and the high swings captured everyone's attention. Visitors of all ages seemed happy and engaged at the parks.

Children also played football, cricket, and badminton. In the haunted house, families enjoyed the various ghostly and fairy displays, while others took selfies with caged birds, animals, and wild creatures. Despite the rising heat, the parks remained lively and vibrant.

A large number of families brought their own food from home and continued to enjoy it while in the parks. The park administration had set up new and attractive swings and decorated the parks with beautiful flowers and statues. The security arrangements at the parks were also top-notch, with security guards and CCTV cameras installed for safety. To accommodate more visitors, the parks extended their operating hours until 1am.

Families shared mixed reactions during their visits. Ayaz Shah mentioned that the parks were beautifully arranged, but the food and drink prices were exorbitant, and the ticket prices for rides were too high. The parking fee of Rs150 for cars was excessive, he added.