Jashn-e-Baharan ads a threat to users of overhead bridges

LAHORE : Beware while crossing a road through an overhead pedestrian bridge as Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has covered majority of the bridges with Jashn-e-Baharan branding leaving the citizens at the risk of criminal activities.

The most dangerous part of this activity is branding of Jashn-e-Baharan on overhead pedestrian bridges in front of female educational institutions on Jail Road, Punjab University and other city locations as branding for Jashn-e-Baharan on these pedestrian bridges has blocked the view of public and no one can know if any criminal activity occurred over the bridge. Some years back, a young boy killed a girl and later committed suicide over the pedestrian bridge outside a renowned female educational institute on Jail Road. Following the incident, then authorities decided that no branding would be done on pedestrian bridges to avoid any criminal activity.

“I was feeling afraid while crossing the bridge as it was covered from both sides and I was alone,” said Shazia, student of a female college on Jail Road near Met office. She said the authorities should have thought hundred times before fully covering the pedestrian bridges outside female colleges and universities.

Junaid Khan, a resident of Wahdat Colony, said that some months back two unidentified persons snatched his wallet while he was crossing a pedestrian bridge outside Ichhra Market. He said as the bridges are now fully covered, such incidents may rise.

PHA’s Director Marketing Shahid Bhatti while talking with The News said that this issue was not discussed in the meetings and no one from the authority as well as the district administration pointed out such a concern. He, however, agreed that pedestrian bridges outside female colleges and universities should remain transparent. He said he would discuss the issue with higher management.

Talking about the slow paced ongoing Jashn-e-Baharan activities, Bhatti said that security threats were the main reason due to which many activities were dropped. Answering a question that why lighting was not done by the corporate partners, he said authorities didn’t allow this.

It is pertinent to mention here that the present Jashn-e-Baharan can be termed the most unimpressive show PHA has ever organised. It is pointed out that massive brand promotion activities were allowed to the corporate partners but in return PHA got very less sponsorship as majority of the city’s roundabouts, which were always lit up by sponsors, remained dark. No show of Lahore canal was organised whereas the main fair in Jilani Park, which was the main activity of this season, was also skipped. PHA’s Director Marketing, however, said that the authority had planned indigenous activities in different parks but on a limited scale.