Preserving the environment

This refers to various articles written on turning Lahore into a concrete jungle in the name of development. Back in the 1980s, most of the roadsides in Lahore were lush green and one could walk along the road in shade during the hottest summer. Travelling from the main city to the Baghbanpura area, one could feel a drop in temperature because of the presence of so many trees. Now with all those trees already uprooted in the name of development; the roads widened to have four lanes on either side and most of the footpath either disappeared or encroached upon by generators, security posts/barriers; there is no way that anyone can walk along the road under a scorching sun. Lahore was famous for its gardens where people would enjoy walks in the morning or evening. Unfortunately, the residents of Lahore are now deprived of this comfort. The city is now no more for pedestrians. We, the Pakistanis, seem to have some sort of an enmity towards greenery for we never feel sorry while chopping down a decade-old tree.

This development is forcing people to buy vehicles whose exhausts are polluting the atmosphere even more. In most of the developed countries, the older vehicles are taxed at higher rates and after a certain age are not allowed on the road. But we are giving incentives to people to drive old, rickety and smoke belching vehicles by giving tax rebates or even make them tax free. There is no concept of town planning and proper zoning left as the material greed has taken hold of all senses. The old residential areas are being converted into commercial areas just to satisfy the lust of developers who have no regard to the sanctity of this city’s environment. The city is expanding in all directions at a rapid pace and the prime agricultural lands in the vicinity are being devoured by machinery. It is time to stop and think about our action. We must realise that this unplanned development will be destructive for the environment.

Ayub Malik (Sargodha)