Why Pakistan’s cities are choking |
TRAFFIC congestion is no longer a problem confined to Pakistan alone; rather, it has become a global urban challenge.
Whether a country is developed or developing, its major cities are increasingly facing severe traffic pressure. From Manhattan in the United States to Moscow in Russia, Beijing in China, Oxford in the United Kingdom and Karachi in Pakistan, metropolitan centres across the world are struggling with the same issue. In Pakistan, however, this challenge has assumed alarming proportions due to rapid urbanization, overpopulation, weak planning and poor governance. Every day, millions of citizens in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and other major cities spend hours trapped in traffic jams, resulting in frustration, economic losses, fuel wastage and environmental pollution.
The foremost cause of traffic congestion in Pakistan is the rapid increase in population. Major cities have swollen under the acute pressure of overpopulation and migration from villages, small towns and less- developed districts. People naturally move towards big cities because these urban centres offer greater opportunities for employment, better healthcare, quality education and recreational facilities. For many families, cities symbolize hope, progress and financial stability. Unfortunately, while population growth and migration continue at a fast pace, infrastructure has failed to expand proportionately. Roads originally designed decades ago for limited traffic are now expected to accommodate millions of cars, motorcycles, buses and commercial transport........