Bisama, Koi, Surab, Kharan, and several other towns are rarely known by the general public, yet nearly half of Khuzdar’s population resides in them. Calling them ‘hidden towns’ is fitting since many people are unaware of their existence, including some residents of Khuzdar itself. This is largely due to the fact that people from these towns rarely migrate to other cities or make their presence known.
What is the reason for their limited migration? The reason is simple: transportation. There is a severe absence of any proper system of public transportation. These towns have resources; they grow vegetables and fruits. But they have no means to transport their produce to other regions. As a result, buyers must travel to these towns to make purchases, which significantly hampers local sales and economic growth.
Even in emergencies, residents are unable to rely on a functioning transportation system to reach hospitals. People from lower income families are unable to afford private transportation such as personal cars and bikes, therefore, are left helpless in such critical situations.
Sadly, even people who do own personal vehicles often refrain from assisting the poor.
The government of Pakistan must pay urgent attention to these hidden towns and work towards providing them with basic infrastructure. In today’s modern world, transportation is a fundamental aspect of accessibility — and without accessibility, the poor remain trapped in poverty.
Ikram Baloch
Hub
