Learning about this development in Karachi is definitely a welcome change
KARACHI: Kudos to the residents of Karachi! A new underpass has been opened for public use. Given that the excise and taxation department recorded over 3.6 million registered motor vehicles in 2014, it is perhaps sensible that the Sindh government has given more importance to construction and remodelling of road networks in the city.
Not only is the new underpass going to hopefully smooth out traffic, but what made me smile this morning is press coverage that showed locals appreciating the underpass’s aesthetic element. Artistically designed to represent waterfalls and forests, traffic is being obstructed just because everyone wants to take pictures with the murals!
Reporters and the media at large are saying that such behaviour should be discouraged, but I think that the people of this country have little opportunities to relish development. It’s like saying that we shouldn’t let the public celebrate a cricket win against India on the streets because that obstructs traffic.
Instead, the government could have opened the underpass just for public admiration for one or two days. Don’t deny people the little pleasures that they may get. Karachi hardly has any scenic areas. The least that can be allowed for this milestone in infrastructure is pictures.
After reading about Punjab’s new roads, bridges and transport system all the time, learning about this development in Karachi is definitely a welcome change.
John Martin
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2017.
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