Children and young people in Rawalpindi are being forced to play cricket and other games in cemeteries, open plots and busy streets because usable public sports space is disappearing, local activists warn. The shortage of safe, accessible fields has turned simple play into a public safety and social welfare concern.
Zaheer Ahmad Awan, chairman of the Citizen Action Committee, visited Dhok Khaba cemetery following public complaints and spoke to the media about the worsening situation. He said most municipal playgrounds inside the city are either shut or rented out on commercial terms, leaving low and middle income families with nowhere safe to let their children play. Many youngsters cannot afford high fees charged at private grounds, he explained, which pushes them toward hazardous places to play.
Awan stressed that the absence of proper play areas is driving youth away from positive activities and contributing to broader social problems. He warned that cricket on roads and in cemeteries is not only dangerous but also hampers healthy development and increases the risk of accidents. For him, sports are essential for physical health and a key barrier against negative influences among young people.
The Citizen Action Committee has demanded that authorities immediately open all government sports grounds in the inner city to the public without commercial fees and establish a regular maintenance system. Awan also urged construction of new parks and playing fields across neighbourhoods so every child has a safe place to play. He called on the Chief Minister of Punjab to take prompt action and implement concrete steps to restore access to Rawalpindi playgrounds.
Local residents and community groups say swift government intervention is needed to ensure that children can play in secure, properly maintained spaces rather than in places that endanger their safety and wellbeing. Opening and maintaining public playfields would, they argue, provide healthier outlets for youth energy and help strengthen community life across the city.
