Lack of transport facilities steps up migration to cities

Inadequate transport facilities have become a big reason behind increase in rural population's migration toward big cities causing multiple problems for the already burdened civic amenities. Hundreds of families have shifted to Lahore from villages and towns between Lahore to Narowal due to inadequate travelling facilities.
Many more are planning to shift to the provincial metropolis, Naseer Ahmed Mian, a shopkeeper of Azam Cloth Market having permanent residence in Narang Mandi, a town between Lahore to Narowal, told APP here on Sunday.
"There is no train; buses are overcrowded and we are left with no choice but to shift our family to Lahore to continue the business", he said. He said that there were ten railway trains on the Lahore-Narowal section and all of them were packed to capacity but the previous government closed all of them.
It added to the burden on the already inadequate road transport system, causing inconvenience to daily commuters including, students, employees, elderly citizens and women, said Javaid Iqbal, who works in a bank at Shah Aalm Market and lives in Narang Mandi.
He said that his many friends had shifted to Lahore and he was also planning it. "No train and overcrowded buses have forced us to plan shifting. If trains are restored or the government starts a bus service from Lahore to Narowal through Narang Mandi, the migration can be stopped," he added.
Sheikh Shabaz, a businessman of Kala Khatai, said he had shifted his family to Lahore because of improper transport facilities. "Most daily commuters have to face great difficulties in waiting for buses in the worst weather conditions," he said. The trains were providing safe journey for even girls and others having jobs in Lahore, said Ashfaq Ahmed, an employee of Motorway police.
He said that LTC buses can be an option to improve transport facilities if railway trains can not be restored immediately. "I commute daily from Narang to Lahore and I have to wait for a bus for many hours in harsh weather conditions to reach at my workplace," said Jahangir Ahmed, another daily commuter.