Peshawar, the frontier city, is also the oldest city of the region. The city was on the Silk Route and expanded with time. The first instance of “zero” digit used in mathematics was discovered in Peshawar and the city has been the centre for Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim religions during time. The city was located at present day Charsadda, and with time expanded to its current location.
But Peshawar now is stagnant. It cannot grow. It is not allowed to grow because of Peshawar International Airport (now called Bacha Khan International Airport, after the ANP renamed everything including the province). Constructed in 1927, Peshawar International Airport is small, with a car parking for four vehicles only. The airport is also one of the world’s most unique airports as it has an active Railway track running across its runaway.
Peshawar city expanded over the past decades but this expansion was not well planned. The city development has surrounded the airport, with only two roads running across the city, the entire city’s traffic drives around the Peshawar Airport on congested roads. Traffic has become a major problem in Peshawar, with patients expiring in ambulances stuck in traffic but the city planners are not allowed to construct any raised highway due to the airport and are restricted with the expansion because of the airport.
A new airport was planned for Peshawar in the Musharraf era, but the PPP government scrapped the plan and diverted funds to the Benazir Islamabad Airport.
To help the city of Peshawar grow, the PTI government has to construct a new airport that has rapid rail/bus transport, parking space and cargo facility. The current airport should be decommissioned and the land used to create new transport links and commercial area only.
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar
