Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Capital residents, who could not go to their natives towns, are visiting various recreational spots during the Eid holidays, to fully enjoy the holidays.

There is a lot of hustle bustle on spots like Rawal Dam, Chattar Park, Lake View Park, DamneKoh, Shakarparian and Rose and Jasmin Garden as thousands of people are flooding to these few recreational places in Islamabad.

Such a sudden rush has been very rare in the federal capital as over the years, most the people used to go to their native towns to celebrate Eid.

During last couple of years, presence of people has been increasing in the federal capital during the Eid holidays, turning it into a lively city contrary to the past impression of a ‘ghost city’.

Traffic flow on the roads of twin cities remained thin on the Eid day after a week-long overcrowding when the buyers rushed to markets for Eid shopping.

However, traffic snarls at the capital roads, days before Eid and on the “Chand Raat” were an eye opener for the departments like CDA and the traffic police.

The Eid holidays are more joyous for the school going children as they find some moments of respite from heavy schedules and the weighty school bags.

They have been pursuing parents to go out for enjoyment, days before the Eid, and when the time has come they are enjoying it to the hilt.

“It feels very happy to come here. We are fully enjoying the Eid holidays,” said a young girl child, Rimsha, who visited Rawal dam on the second day of Eid, with her parents and other family members.

“You know, Eid comes once in a year and this time we have planned to go out daily during all Eid holidays,” said another child, Musfirah, who went to Damane Koh to have a view of the capital city and enjoy some leisure moments.

Like the children, most of parents, particularly the government servants, also want to have a respite from monotonous office working.

People are visiting relatives and friends and those having their own cars or those who manage to board the overcrowded public transport, are going to neighboring Murree hills and the Patriata resort.

Prices of food stuff at all the spots, however, are very high as there is no check on overcharging and the shopkeepers fully exploited the situation.

Similarly, those without their own vehicles have to pay extra fare for visiting the hill stations as the parents and elders have to give in to the demands of their children.

Police remained active to thwart any sabotage attempt during Eid prayers and is continuing patrolling of various sectors during holidays.

Generally thieves used to steal valuables from the empty houses after the residents had proceeded to their natives towns, but the recent measures by the law enforcing agencies, has almost nullified this trend.

Police personnel are checking identification of strangers in the sectors and nabbing beggars to ensure peace and security.

With promoting the idea of community policing in the capital, the residents are now feeling more secure.

Similarly, no untoward incident was reported when the Rescue 15 service was contacted on Tuesday to know the overall situation in the capital during ongoing Eid holidays.

Published in Daily Times, June 29th, 2017.