The beautification and conversion of Peshawar into a model city remained a dream as all three tier of federal, provincial and city district governments have failed in initiating any major development scheme for the oldest living city of the world.
Peshawar, once known as the city of gardens and flowers till recent past is converting into a city of garbage and filth due to the lack of the interest of city fathers. The historic Mughal era parks of the city had already been converted into dusty fields and loosing its attraction and beauty for the visitors.
Besides, the deteriorating conditions of the recreation parks, the roads are also in dilapidated conditions and after a short shower motorists as well as pedestrians face difficulties in passing through it. The roads converted into pool of waters due to the lack of proper cleanliness mechanism for the city drains.
Both the provincial government of the Muthahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and its affiliated city district nazims are making tall claims for initiating a number of mega developmental schemes for the city. However, except, Sher Soori Bridge Flyover, which was also started before the inception of the MMA government, the city has witnessed no practical measures for development.
Although the provincial government has sanctioned a handsome amount for expansion of City Circular Road, but after the demolition of some houses and those also of a minority group, the operation for widening of the busy road has stopped due to the reasons known to only the city fathers.
The provincial government has also sanctioned Rs 102 million in budget for current financial year for the development of provincial metropolis. The annual budget was also included the purchase of two power brooms for cleanliness of the city and construction of canal petrol roads and Mathni-Bara, Peshawar bypass for lessening traffic burden on the roads.
The residents of Peshawar are also confronting traffic and transport problems due to many-fold increase in vehicular traffic on the roads. According to estimation, the city has more than 10,000 unregistered auto rickshaws plying on the roads without any check resulting in increasing environmental pollution.
The dwellers of the city since long are hearing about launching of CNG bus service on the city roads, but once again the city fathers are helpless in front of the mini-bus transport mafia, which forcing the people to travel in their old and outdated vehicles.
The encroachments had also made the lives of the people miserable leaving the pedestrians with no other option other than going on roads and putting their lives at risk. The footpaths in busy business areas like Ashraf Road, Hashtnagri, New Rampura Gate, Clock Tower, Pepal Mandi and Qissakhawani have been converted into mini-market.
The city district and TMAs concerned had miserably failed in the removal of these encroachments at one or the other pretext. The City District Government has also failed in shifting of the buffaloes and carpet manufacturing units creating environmental pollution and hazardous for the residents of the city. The decision for setting up buffalo colonies in the outskirts of the city was taken during the last set-up.
However, due to reason known to the city fathers it was never implemented. Regarding the shifting of the carpet manufacturing units, even the provincial legislature had passed a unanimous resolution, but the situation remained the same and the people had to suffer from the environment hazardous created due to these units.
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