Campaigning in full swing in old city areas
PHOTO: FILE
With election campaigning under way in full swing in the National Assembly constituency NA-118, local voters are demanding the solution of their problems including infectious diseases due to illegal factories, lack of development work for a long time, as well as unavailability of potable water and gas supply.
The constituency in Lahore is of great political importance, but this time the voters appear dissatisfied with the candidates.
A local resident said while speaking to The Express Tribune that elections had been held successively during recent decades but the candidates had never tried to change the living conditions in the constituency after winning.
He said the plight of the areas had not changed. Leaking sewerage lines cause inundation of streets and contamination of the water supplied to the residents.
NA-118 has a total population of 948,527 and the number of voters is 735,251, of whom 394,224 are male and 341,027 female.
The arrangements for sanitation in the localities included in the constituency are poor with garbage lying in the streets for days. Due to dilapidated streets and roads, elderly men, women and children face severe difficulties in going out of home.
Residents are suffering from infectious diseases due to pollution caused by factories in the area.
During the election days, the candidates offer consolations and promise to move illegal industries out of the residential areas, but the pledge is not fully implemented.
Read Dynamics of campaigning change
Another voter said the representatives elected in the past had not taken any significant step for development in the constituency. Due to this, the problems of the residents are increasing.
There is no gas supply in winter and no electricity in summer, he lamented, adding that the electric wires hanging in the streets threatened lives.
The residents said they would vote for a candidate who would solve the problems of the area on a priority basis.
The constituency is home to a large number of businessmen and government employees in addition to labourers.
It includes the old areas of Lahore. The voters also complained of financial hardship because of unemployment and low wages.
This constituency consists of areas like Sheranwala Gate, Bibi Pakdamanan, Lunda Bazaar, Nolakha Bazaar, Brandreth Road, Railway Road, Mumtaz Street, Ihata Haji Musa, Shadab Colony, Muslim League House, Old Fruit Market, Mochi Gate, Ganda Engine, Kacha Nisbet Road, Dil Muhammad Road, Chamberlain Road, Gwalmandi, Chuna Mandi, Sutar Mandi, Misri Shah, Bhati Gate, Bazaar Hakiman, Mohalla Islam Khan, Habibullah Road, Sheesh Mahal, Tagore Street, Mochi Gate, Rehman Street, Panipat Street, Muhammad Nagar and Data Nagar.
Candidates from all parties are participating in the elections, including Hamza Shehbaz of PML-N for the NA seat, Alia Hamza Malik as an independent candidate from PTI and Shahid Abbas of PPP.
Among the candidates for MPA from the area are Muhammad Khan Madani from the PTI as independente, Hamza Shehbaz of PML-N, Shah Zaman, Abdul Aleem Khan of Istehkam Pakistan Party and Khawaja Abdul Rahman of PPP.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2024.