Traffic discipline

As the number of vehicles on the roads continues to grow, traffic conditions worsen – despite notable improvements in road infrastructure and signage. Near the police checkpoint at Niazbeg Thokar on Multan Road in Lahore, iron grills have been installed to separate lanes, along with benches for beautification. However, nearby structures like the Lahore Gate serve little practical purpose, representing a waste of public funds and an obstacle to the smooth flow of traffic. Regardless of how wide or well-maintained roads are, traffic will not improve unless drivers behave responsibly and face strict penalties for violations.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has shown genuine commitment to reforming the provincial administrative system. One visible success has been her efforts to keep Lahore clean. ‘Clean Lahore’ appears to be the current mantra: sanitation workers in green uniforms are seen diligently cleaning streets, and vehicles bearing the campaign’s message are frequently visible. Similarly, the anti-encroachment drive has helped ease movement for motorists and pedestrians alike.

With the same determination, the CM would be widely appreciated if she prioritised improving traffic conditions. Effective traffic management would be a clearer reflection of administrative competence than many other reforms. A disciplined traffic system sends a strong signal that chaos and negligence will not be tolerated on public roads.

More importantly, if feasible, the CM should instruct the police not to stop traffic for the convoys of VVIPs – often individuals enjoying state privileges without proportionate contributions. Meanwhile, taxpayers, rushing to work, generate the very revenue that supports the state, including the significant salary increases recently granted to politicians. For example, the monthly salary of senior cabinet and Senate members reportedly rose to Rs1,950,000 – a staggering 850 per cent increase. This decision, along with associated perks like housing, transport, and domestic staff, deserves mention in the political chronicles of the Islamic Republic.

Though the salaries of senior judges have also recently increased, that remains a sensitive subject. Public perception is growing that society is divided into two classes: a privileged elite and a struggling majority. The burden of maintaining the system rests disproportionately on the poor.

I commend the CM for her focused drive to bring change. However, she should also consider cutting back on extravagant government buildings built under the guise of development. To illustrate, a series of towering government offices – NADRA, EOBI, the Punjab Statistics Department and others – stand clustered along Nazaria Pakistan Road in Lahore. Despite the size and staffing of these institutions, public satisfaction remains low. Can we really justify constructing such massive buildings using funds borrowed from international institutions?

Another recent initiative is the establishment of the Environment Protection Force under the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department. This new unit reportedly comprises around 1,000 personnel, including some with PhDs. They wear uniforms and even participated in a formal passing-out parade. Among their responsibilities is vehicle emissions testing, issuing stickers based on exhaust fumes. However, there are currently too few testing booths, resulting in long queues. One wonders whether PhD holders are meant to oversee such basic operational tasks.

Traffic conditions, especially on public roads, offer the most immediate impression to visiting foreigners. No matter how effective unseen administrative work may be, it is the visible flow of traffic that reflects a city’s governance. Unfortunately, basic practices like using turn indicators seem outdated to many drivers, even educated ones. Motorcyclists, in particular, often rely on turning their heads instead of mirrors or signals to indicate direction – leaving fellow motorists to guess their intentions.

In short, traffic on our roads is chaotic. The CM would earn significant goodwill by instructing traffic police to enforce discipline and uphold safety, ensuring a more orderly experience for all, especially responsible and senior road users.

The writer is a freelance columnist based in Lahore. He can be reached at: pinecity@gmail.com