Shehri-Citizen for a Better Environment (Shehri-CBE) on Wednesday highlighted serious mobility challenges faced by pedestrians and people with special needs in the city, urging Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) to enact 'Accessible Streets and Public Spaces Act 2019' and implement the same to cover the universal design considerations. The proposal came at an event titled 'consultation on accessible and safe street resolution with elected representatives' which was held at a local hotel.
The proposed resolution has underscored the need of designing neighbourhoods and the built environment, including streets, sidewalks and public spaces falling in the jurisdiction of the Corporations to comply with standard requirements of universal accessibility e.g. sidewalks (with ramps, tactile tiles, brail way finders), cycle ways, traffic calming, and pedestrian crossings. It also called for ensuring connectivity to bus stops/bus rapid transit stations and surrounding environments, public transport interchanges and establishing disability car park sites to allow a safe amount of room at the back and side for ramps, hoists and wheel chairs, besides increasing the number of pedestrian crossings on main roads ensuring accessibility for all people. The resolution further demanded for more ramps in public areas for people with impaired mobility. Conduct regular audit and review spaces under the jurisdiction of the Corporations for access and inclusion, including disability toilets and access to parks and public facilities.
Farhan Anwar, an urban planner and project manager Shehri-CBE gave a detailed presentation over integrating urban policy, planning and design for public space renewal.
He said the elderly, women, children and people with special needs face serious mobility challenges in the city. There is a need to develop a comprehensive strategic roadmap, to be followed by actions on ground, on how we can move towards having 'accessible' streets and public spaces in Karachi where our streets/sidewalks, and public spaces can be designed to make them accessible and walk able for pedestrians and people with special needs. KMC and the six DMCs need to take a lead in this direction.
Sharing the details he said Shehri is presently in the process of executing a three year project 'Climate Efficient Urban Mobility and Smart City Growth'.
The project aims to initiate a narrative and action on sustainable urban mobility in Karachi city. Within the ongoing project framework, Shehri has recently launched an 'Accessible Streets & Public Spaces' campaign.
This campaign focuses on highlighting mobility challenges faced by pedestrians and people with special needs.
Consultative Workshop was organized in collaboration with the Karachi Historic District Revitalization Project, a citizen initiative launched by the Heritage Foundation under the supervision of noted architect and citizen activist Yasmeen Lari. The Workshop had a core focus on the old city, Saddar, Lyari and other historic quarters of Karachi and discussion focus would be on strategies to develop 'Pedestrian Districts', reviving historic heritage sites and overall area improvement and on highlighting how improved public spaces can lead to having a more liveable city.
A critical effort is on highlighting academic projects conducted in leading architectural, planning and social faculties of learning so that new ideas are shared and their feasibility for implementation was looked into.
Young architects and planners gave presentation on their thesis on the occasion. Policy, planning strategies and design options for revival of old city was discussed.
Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shalwani graced the event and urged architects, academia and civil society to support the city government in urban planning and restoring the city's past glory. The City Council members mainly from Lyari, other government officials, civil society groups, experts and academics also attended the event. Shehri-CBE general secretary Amber Alibhai gave welcome address.