Citizens Throng Picnic Spots To Celebrate Eid

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jun, 2018 ) :Thousands of fun seekers including women and children thronged to the parks of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate Eid ul Fitr.

Having spent the first day of Eid on Saturday on ritual exercise of greeting relatives, friends and near and dear ones the citizens were seen flocking to numerous parks like Public park Rawalpindi commonly known Nawaz Sharif Park, Ayub National Park, Family park Commercial markets Satellite Town Rawalpindi, Jinnah park and Shahbaz Sharif park especially on Sunday.

Girls were seen swinging at the parks while children were screaming on merry-go-rounds and the adults were exuberant to see smiles on the faces of their children. The reason behind fun making at the parks was that the school children were free and fully enjoying Eid ul Fitr during summer vacations. However, the people were complaining about lack of facilities at the parks and high rates of edible items at canteens and cafeteria as well. They were also irritated while paying extra money for parking facilities at most of the parks.

They were of the view that the government should make entry to all the parks with parking facilities free and the prices of all items at canteens should be checked and controlled by the authorities concerned, so that the people could enjoy.

Shahbaz Sharif Park at Rawal Road recently inaugurated here is a beautiful addition in tourists' resorts of twin cities. It was another place of attraction for the people of the twin cities specially the children and youth.

A large number of people were also seen traveling towards Murree Hills to enjoy Eid celebrations as the weather of Murree Hills has been very pleasant particularly on Eid days.

The parks in Rawalpindi were specially decorated to make them attractive for the visitors.

The people also demanded of the government to make new gardens and allocate places for small parks at housing localities so that the people should not cover long distances, which also create transportation problems for them.

While, the families visiting the parks of the city complained that over charging, sale of substandard food items and non-availability of quality products are main cause of concern. The vendor took full benefit to the situation as the concerned authorities failed to control the quality and rates of the commodities rather there was no check and balance in this regard and the shopkeepers were given free hand.

The people demanded of the authorities to take action against the violators and those fleecing the tourists.

"The food-items being offered at the canteen were really tantamount to fleecing and the children were being robbed off their Eidis at different parts, said Talha, a 15-year old boy at Ayub Park.

Special security arrangements were also seen outside the parks for the protection of the visitors. The public transporters including taxi drivers fleeced the people and charged fares of their own will.

The rates of chips, biscuits, burgers, soft drinks, mineral water and other items were almost double in the parks of twin cities as compared to open markets.

People also complained regarding the Auto Teller Machines (ATMs) of various banks including National Bank of Pakistan which remained out of order during Eid holidays creating hardships for the people of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The people also complained against fruit and vegetable sellers who fleeced the public in the twin cities and charged prices of their own.

The fruit and vegetable sellers charged exorbitant ratesespecially on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, first and second day of Eid.