Lahore Dawn has been contaminated

 Lahore Dawn has been contaminated

Rana Sohail / Published 17 April, 2023 

 PAKISTANI cities are grossly under-managed. Their governing structures are opaque, centralised, and bureaucratic to the extreme. As a result, they are unable to meet the needs of a large proportion of their residents. Karachi is the country's most visible example of urban mismanagement, but similar tales of decay can be found throughout the country, including Lahore.

 Cities in Pakistan are grossly under-managed. Their governing structures are opaque, centralised, and excessively bureaucratic. As a result, they are unable to meet the needs of a significant percentage of their residents. Karachi is the most visible example of urban mismanagement in the country, but similar tales of decay can be found throughout the country, including Lahore.

Pakistan's cities are grossly under-managed. Their political structures are opaque, centralised, and overly bureaucratic. As a result, they are unable to meet the needs of a large proportion of their residents. Karachi is the most visible example of the country's urban mismanagement, but similar stories of decay can be found throughout the country, including Lahore. Pakistan's cities are grossly under-managed. Their political structures are opaque, centralised, and overly bureaucratic. As a result, they are unable to meet the needs of a large proportion of their residents. Karachi is the most visible example of the country's urban mismanagement, but similar stories of decay can be found throughout the country, including Lahore. Pakistan's cities are grossly under-managed. Their governing structures are opaque, centralised.

Water contamination and sanitation are the two most serious issues in Pakistani cities. Water contamination and sanitation are the two most serious issues in Pakistani cities.

Nothing exemplifies urban inequity more than the disparity in the usability and safety of an essential need, namely water. Given that its implementation is largely in the hands of municipal government entities like the Water and Sanitation Authority or the Cantonment Board, one must wonder what explains the current apathy and what it would take to improve it.

The literature on urban service delivery in other countries focuses on several factors that can help explain why services may be unequally distributed between high and low-income areas. Historically, the baseline situation in nearly all cities has been that upscale and posh areas receive better services. This is because decision-makers are typically residents of those areas, and residents have a stronger voice and resources.

This is also true in Lahore and other cities throughout Pakistan. A look at where government development entities, such as the Lahore Development Authority, spend their resources reveals that large-scale road infrastructure projects, which directly benefit car-owning households, are frequently prioritised. LDA's official Twitter account published a tweet on March 30 with the preamble "exciting news for Lahore residents!" What was the ostensible source of the excitement? The construction of a four-lane underpass on Bedian Road between DHA Phases 5 and 6.

The project will cost hundreds of millions of rupees, if not billions. Regardless of how it is marketed, it is only intended to improve traffic flow between two DHA phases that house an airport.

This is also true in Lahore and other Pakistani cities. A look at where government development entities spend their resources, such as the Lahore Development Authority, reveals that large-scale road infrastructure projects that directly benefit car-owning households are frequently prioritised. On March 30, the LDA's official Twitter account posted a tweet with the preamble "exciting news for Lahore residents!" What was the apparent source of the excitement? Building a four-lane underpass on Bedian Road between DHA Phases 5 and 6.

The project will cost hundreds of millions, if not billions, of rupees. It is only intended to improve traffic flow between two DHA phases that house an airport, regardless of how it is marketed.