It is customary to install a monument stone or a wall bearing names of the person who laid the foundation of a project. It is also a tradition worldwide to have some kind of monument to recognize the names and contributions of those who lost their lives during the completion of a project. The foundations stones plaques of both Mangla and Tarbela dams recognize names of officers, laborers, and engineers who lost their lives during construction of the projects. However, the RWP-ISB Metro project, completed with much fanfare, supposedly in record time, has no shortage of newspaper ads, foundations stones, and plaques glorifying the achievements of the Khadim-e-Ala, aka Shahbaz Sharif, there is not a single mention of the laborers during the completion of the project. Many laborers lost their lives during completion of this project. For example, 4 workers were buried alive under sudden mudslide during construction of one of the bridges. Many others lost their lives falling off the bridges or machinery accidents. I understand the boasting of these projects for political mileage by the PMLN, but wouldn’t it have been a bit humane if the names of those who lost their lives during completion of projects that purportedly provide better transport facilities to masses were also recognized somehow? Perhaps, naming of a station or a wall bearing names of workers would signal that we recognize the contributions of those who lost their lives to makes ours a little better.
RAJA SHAFAATULLAH
ISLAMABAD
