Lahore, Pakistan's cultural heart and economic powerhouse, has become a city where walking has turned into an act of courage. Footpaths have disappeared from most major corridors, and where they still exist, they are blocked by vendors, motorcycles or billboards. Streets once meant for people now belong to vehicles. This is not merely inconvenient, but a crisis of safety, sustainability and livability.

According to data from the Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab, Lahore's registered vehicles increased from 377,667 in 2014 to 4.1 million in 2024 — an elevenfold rise in a decade. The city now has 842,618 cars, over 3 million motorcycles and over 100,000 rickshaws, all competing for limited road space. Yet pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has remained almost unchanged.

Traffic counts tell a similar story. Average Annual Daily Traffic on key routes has surged: Badian Road (Jambo Stop) rose from 16,217 to 23,350 vehicles; Harike near MP Check Post from 13,912 to 23,083; and Raiwind Bypass from 12,592 to 21,671 between 2014 and 2024. On Raiwind-Sunder Road,........

© The Express Tribune