Parks attract 700,000 visitors in two days but rising ticket prices keep low-income families away

RAWALPINDI: On the first day of Eidul Fitr, city parks were filled with families enjoying festive activities, with children particularly thrilled by boating, dodging cars, electronic games, Jungle Kingdom, and animal exhibits.

After performing Eid prayers and sharing traditional dishes like vermicelli, kheer, and halwa puri with family members, people flocked to all 54 parks across the city.

Children from low- and middle-income families, unable to pay for costly rides and attractions, spent their time on free metal swings installed around the parks. Paid activities included boating, dodging cars, and Jungle Kingdom rides, with tickets priced between Rs250 and Rs500. Parking charged Rs100, while camel and horse rides cost Rs300.

Food prices inside parks were sharply higher than the market, with namkeen snacks at Rs200, chaat and fruit chaat at Rs400, and small juice bottles at Rs110.

Major parks including Ayub Park, Jinnah Park, Joyland, Rawal Park, Allama Iqbal Park, Ladies Park, Rumi Park, Children’s Park, 502 Workshop Park, Khayaban Park, and New Katarian Park saw massive crowds, with around 700,000 visitors during the first two days of Eid. Parks were kept open from 9am to midnight for the three-day festival, though protests occurred at Rawal Park and Shehbaz Sharif Park when gates opened late at 11:30am on the first day.