Captial's hiking trails: natural therapeutic activity for distressed residents during pandemic.

ISLAMABAD -- Amid all the disarray caused by novel Covid-19, hiking trails of Margala Hills National Park are providing a therapeutic activity to the residents of Islamabad who have been confined to their homes for several weeks due to lockdown.

Soon after the Islamabad administration decided to reopen hiking trails with strict orders to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), many hikers, males and females, turned towards the healthy activity of running and walking in mountains to break down the stress and frustration due to being locked down at homes.

The trails had been shut down during the lockdown imposed in the country to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, last month, the district administration of the city issued a notification for hiking trails to be reopened for the public.

According to the order, residents can hike while strictly following the rules of social distancing. A six feet distance has to be maintained between people at all times with face masks on as a mandatory rule.

Where residents expressed their delight over the decision, they also assured that everyone could protect themselves from the virus if social distancing was maintained.

The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad's environment directorate will be responsible for implementing the SOPs and guidelines.

A regular hiker from Rawalpindi, Jawad Ali Shah told reporter that since the tracks were opened, people were coming in a big number but trail 3 has been the busiest so far. "Trails 3 and 5 were crowded on weekends while wearing masks on entry points were mandatory which was being monitored by the...