‘Urban challenges threaten Abbottabad’s tranquil legacy’

ABBOTTABAD: Once kno­wn for its serene environment and natural beauty, Abbottabad is now grappling with growing urban challenges, said an international researcher, educationist and development activist on Saturday.

Talking to reporters here, Dr Waseem Ahmed highlighted the concerns over unchecked development and its impact on the city’s livability. Accompanied by a team of seasoned development activists, Dr Waseem said that decades of corruption, bureaucratic negligence and political ego clashes have crippled its infrastructure, leading to life-threatening emergencies, failing schools and environmental hazards.

He pointed out different challenges. He said the girls’ education was in crisis due to deplorable school conditions; Emergency cardiac deaths occur due to the absence of a Cath Lab and flooding and poor drainage pose serious health risks.

He further said that water contamination leads to disease outbreaks and the garbage management crisis affects the city’s cleanliness.

Dr Waseem also proposed solutions including transforming the outdated Abbottabad District Jail into a Smart Model Girls’ Campus; Establishment of a state-of-the-art Cath Lab through public-private partnerships and implementation of underground storm water drains and real-time IoT-based flood sensors. He stressed the need to replace outdated water lines with smart meters and nanotech filters and Introduce segregated waste collection and waste-to-energy plants.

He said by working together and leveraging public-private partnerships, global expertise and community willpower, Abbottabad can become a model smart, safe, and sustainable urban hub. Prioritising education, healthcare and infrastructure development is crucial for the city’s revival, he concluded.