The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) has urged the government to reopen the recreational parks as lockdown has put their survival at stake.

The LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar and Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmad said here Tuesday that recreational parks are an important part of tourism industry and the government had closed down all recreational parks to control spread of coronavirus.

They said the government has taken good decision to open businesses throughout the country. Recreational parks should also be allowed to open as investors have invested billions of rupees and playing a proactive role in promotion the tourism industry, they added.

They maintained that recreational parks are one of local community attractions for physical activities and relieve stress after hard work. They added that recreational parks contribute not only to physical activities but also the social wellbeing of their community, enhance property value and contribute to health.

They said that Covid-19 has caused a huge loss to the tourism industry. Opening of recreational parks would be the first towards rehabilitation of this sector, they said.

They said that tourism industry of Pakistan can inject billions of dollars to the national economy besides generating millions of job opportunities and huge revenue to the exchequer.