LAHORE: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has imposed a ban on all kinds of temporary amusement rides in parks during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

Under the ban, the horticulture agencies across Punjab will not allow installation and operation of temporary mechanical rides, swings, and similar amusement setups in public parks under their jurisdiction, according to a spokesperson for the PHA.

“The directions have been issued in line with instructions from the provincial home department and are applicable to all district horticulture agencies operating under the PHA,” said the spokesperson in a statement on Saturday.

However, permanently installed rides at amusement parks, theme parks, and play areas will be allowed to operate only upon the submission of a valid fitness certificate by their owners and operators. The certificate, the spokesperson explained, would verify that each ride had undergone the necessary technical inspections and met all prescribed safety and operational standards.

“All district horticulture agencies have been instructed to strictly enforce the ban on temporary rides and to ensure that only certified, permanent installations remain operational during the Eid holidays,” he added.

He said the PHA is implementing a uniform policy across all district agencies to minimise the risk of accidents and ensure a safe environment for families visiting parks during the festivities. Public safety remained the foremost consideration guiding the decision, he added.

Spokesperson says permanently-installed rides will be allowed only after submission of a valid fitness certificate

It may be recalled that the government had started imposing bans on the amusement rides following various incidents that took place in the public parks reported in Lahore and other cities.

In February 2024, a case was registered against a contractor and a project director of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park after a swing struck a minor girl, resulting in her death due to head injuries. In April, 2024, three children were injured when a swing collapsed at the Racecourse Park on the second day of Eid. The incident occurred when hundreds of families, including children, had gathered for recreation during Eid holidays. Before this, in July 2017, four people, including a minor girl, were injured when a swing collapsed at the Joy Land Park in Fortress Stadium.

On the horticultural front, the PHA has directed the newly-established agencies to expedite their operations to beautify cities and expand the province’s green cover. In addition to the plantation of seasonal flowers to enhance the aesthetic appeal of public parks and greenbelts, agencies are actively undertaking tree plantation drives in their respective jurisdictions. District agencies across major cities have also been directed to establish dedicated biodiversity corridors to help protect the climate and natural habitats. These corridors, comprising interconnected green patches and native vegetation, are designed to support local ecosystems, facilitate the movement of wildlife and pollinators, and help protect natural habitats.

Meanwhile, the PHA has decided to establish a province-wide network of commercial nurseries offering exotic plants, as the umbrella body of district horticulture agencies seeks new avenues to shore up its finances. The decision was taken at a meeting held the other day to develop a sustainable revenue generation model, at a time when the provincial government is finding it increasingly difficult to meet the operational funding demands of public organisations.

Presided over by Additional Director General Mirza Waleed Baig, the meeting reviewed the revenue framework adopted by the Lahore horticulture agency. The participants agreed that, given its core mandate, PHA should build a business model centered on its horticultural assets to generate a steady income stream.

The Lahore agency — the first parks and horticulture authority established in the province — opened its first commercial nursery in Gulberg in 2023, followed by a second at the Racecourse Park the following year. Both facilities offer a range of indoor and outdoor plants, shrubs, and ornamental flowers. The nurseries have drawn a steady footfall from residents, landscapers, and housing societies looking for quality planting material at subsidised prices.

The meeting decided that this model would now be replicated across other districts to widen access to plant material and support plantation drives.

CLEANLINESS OPERATION: The Suthra Punjab Agency Lahore — formerly the Lahore waste management company, has launched a special cleanliness operation in Wahga Town with the deployment of over 1,464 sanitation workers and 321 operational vehicles.

As part of waste management measures, more than 100 loader rickshaws had been assigned to rural union councils of Wahga Town for cleanliness and door-to-door waste collection.

According to a spokesperson, the sanitation teams had completed clearance operations at 22 identified hotspot areas and open plots, including Shadipura, Mominpura, Gul Bahar Town, Dera Gujran and Hindu Gujran. Meanwhile, container clearance and manual sweeping were ensured at key areas such as Sultan Mahmood Road, Dilshad Street, Kareem Bazar, Mahmood Booti, GT Road, Band Road and Basi Mor.

Heavy machinery had also been engaged to carry out waste clearance in Manawan, Jallo Mor, Faisal Bazar, Gharki Road, Khairan Pul, Dhail Village and Wahga Village.

Additionally, sanitation staff remained active in Jallo Park, Jallo Village, Batapur and Tej Garh to maintain cleanliness.

DATA DARBAR: Housing Department Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal visited the Data Darbar Expansion Project and the under-construction Bhati Chowk Underpass to review the progress of ongoing development works.

During the visit, LDA DG Tahir Farooq and Tepa Chief Engineer Iqrar Hussain briefed the secretary on various aspects of the projects. They informed that the piling work of the Bhati Chowk Underpass would be completed within the next three to four days, while excavation and construction of retaining walls also progressing rapidly. They further stated that more than 40 percent work on the Bhati Chowk Underpass project had been completed.

The secretary directed the officials to further accelerate the pace of construction so that the facility could be made available to citizens at the earliest.

Later, he also reviewed different sections of the Data Darbar Expansion Project, including the construction of pedestrian walkways and the upgradation of building facades under the remodeling plan. Officials informed him that nearly 70 percent work on the Data Darbar Expansion Project had been completed, while the remaining work was continuing as per schedule.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026