Just take a round of the city any day and there is no way you can miss seeing footpaths encroached upon illegally, not only in the old city but in some posh areas as well. The pity is that all this is happening under the very nose of the district administration and the police wardens who see no mischief in their vicinity because of the ‘rewards’ they are known to receive from the encroachers for their friendly tolerance.
These encroachments on the pedestrian lanes and the adjoining roadsides are of various varieties. You will find hundreds of rickety carts stuffed with fruits and vegetables for sale. Many shop owners in influential markets and commercial spaces too indulge in this practice. The car-denters shamelessly block these paths and areas around altogether with the blessings of our ever ‘vigilant’ law-enforcers. And, then there are those fearsome open manholes which for the unwary pedestrians are a nightmare.
So, out of sheer compulsion many people use the hazardous roadsides instead to reach their destination. The campaign launched by the local authorities to eliminate city encroachments on the CM’s directives fizzles out after only a couple of weeks due to ill-planning and lack of impetus and integrity on the part of the implementers. Resultantly, the dislodged encroachers speedily retrieve their lost sites once again though with better planning this time. It’s everyone’s dream to see Lahore look prettier, cleaner and be a tourist attraction. But to realise this dream, tremendously more will have to be done with passion and commitment by those at the helm of affairs. Mere fiery rhetoric will not suffice.
FAROOQ ZAMAN
Lahore
