TAXILA: The Attock district administration has sealed all ill-maintained rides, slides and swings including mechanical, conventional and electrical at various parks and recreation spots including on river banks to avert any untoward incident during Eid days.

However, this action drew ire of the visitors and picnickers who termed it a “wrong decision at a wrong time” depriving people of a cheap entertainment.

At Attock Khurd, on the directives of deputy commissioner Ishratullah Khan, a team of the local administration sealed five mega mechanical and conventional swings.

According to officials, these swings were not only being operated without fitness certificate but had expired licences.

At the site of Attock Khurd, those swings and boats which had expired licences were not allowed to operate until they renewed licences.

“The District Council will ensure that the ban is implemented and in this regard it has sought local police help,” the official said.

Separately, Assistant Commissioner Jannat Hussain Nekokara sealed all mechanical and conventional swings in Railway Park due to lack of fitness certificate.

Visitors at Attock Khurd lambasted the decision of the local administration and termed it a wrong action at the wrong time depriving people of cheap entertainment.

Kiran Bibi, a student of Attock campus of Comsats University, told this reporter that she came from Haji Shah to enjoy riding on swing. She said that if there were fitness or renewal of licence issues, why the administration was waiting for Eid days.

Zahoor Shah, a visitor from Jehangira, told this reporter that the administration should have fixed the problem with swings before Eid holidays as their poor management had deprived hundreds of holiday makers especially children of entertainment.

Rimsha Kiynat, 13, told this reporter that every year she along with her family came from Attock city to enjoy here but this time she was disappointed when she saw all the swings closed.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2019