Pollution threatens monuments

By Ali Raza

LAHORE: FAILURE in shifting Badami Bagh bus and truck stands out of the provincial capital is seriously damaging the historical monuments of Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque as air pollution is increasing in the vicinity.
Sources in Environment Protection Department (EPD) said that the department had repeatedly proposed to the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) to shift the bus and truck stands outside the City to save the historical monuments as well as the City’s population from the hazardous affects of air and noise pollution.
Sources added that the department has already served several reminders to the CDGL but so far the CDGL authorities were not seen interested to take up this matter. Sources claimed that so far the CDGL has no immediate plans to shift these bus and truck stands from outside the City.
A large number of vehicles especially commuter vans, buses and goods transportation vehicles are usually parked around the monuments while a traffic mess is always seen at Azadi Chowk and Haider Sain Chowk resulting in continuous vibration and air pollution.
The rising pollution levels are also posing a serious threat to the historical monuments of Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque and experts believed that the pollution in this area was also leaving its impact on the structure of Minar-e-Pakistan.
Ironically, the CDGL has also allowed a general parking stand in the buffer zone for daily visitors to historical monuments. The contractor of this parking stand said the stand was authorised and duly approved by the CDGL. He said he did not know anything about the law of buffer zone and was running his business legally.
It is pertinent to mention here that a large number of light industry as well as steel related industries are also operating around these historical monuments. Environmentalists believe that the Lahore Fort is facing serious environmental problems. EPD sources said most of the steel furnaces operating around the fort are polluting the air and were not following any environmental control rules. 
Only a few have installed devices to control emission of gases and particulate matter, said a senior EPD official. Another major air pollutant is burning of waste by CDGL near Sagian bridge. Lack of plantation in the fort as well as the adjacent Iqbal Park is also one of the cause for increasing air pollution, he added.
A senior CDGL official, on condition of anonymity, said shifting of Badami Bagh Bus and truck stands to outside the City were not on the priority list of the City government. 
He admitted that due to round the clock activity at these bus and truck stands in Badami Bagh area, the level of air and noise pollution was continuously increasing affecting hundreds of thousands of people of the surrounding localities as well as a large number of commuters and daily visitors in the area. 
Sources in CDGL said that after the objections of EPD, CDGL procured land near Sagian bridge but later they decided to construct a scientific landfill at that place. 
Later, the CDGL authorities changed its plans and decided to install a unit generating power from waste at that site.
Environmentalists now are blaming the CDGL for not taking concrete measures to end pollution in the City and said that lack of will and determined effort by the CDGL authorities was needed to counter pollution.
They said Lahore Fort was the country’s premier world heritage site built by Mughals in 1560s and its special features are Shish Mahal, (Palace of Mirrors), Diwan-e-Aam (Court for the Commons), lawns, old wells and Hathi Paer (Steps for Elephants) as well as museums of Mughals and Sikhs.
They said that according to the Federal Antiquities Act 1975 of the government of Pakistan, a 200 feet buffer zone snould be maintained around the major sites of cultural heritage but in the case of Lahore Fort, this rule was either relaxed or not applicable as there was a Rim market and parking stands of all kind of commercial vehicles including trucks, wagons and busses around the fort. 
Naseemur Rehman, a senior EPD official said that the department was asking CDGL to shift these buss and truck stands since 2001. He said pollution, dust and vibration caused by heavy traffic were directly affecting the fort especially its outer walls. 
He said the Rim Market existing along the Fort Road on the east of the fort was also contributing to the air and noise pollution besides it falls within the buffer zone of Lahore Fort. 
A senior official of CDGL said the Revenue Department has completed the survey around the fort for establishing the buffer zone. About the shifting of Rim Market, he said notices have been issued to all the shops and they will be shifted very soon.

Published in Daily The News on Friday, December 03, 2010.

Lahorites take to the streets for ‘change’

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: “Every generation needs a new revolution,” said Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America (USA) and charged-Lahorites proved on March 15 that they had took to streets to help bring about a new revolution which will bring ‘justice’ back in their lives.
From morning until noon, the entire City was virtually a police state with every road barricaded and cordoned off by heavy contingents of police. All eyes were focused on the Lahore High Court and GPO Chowk where Lawyers and activists of the PML-N, the Jaamat-e-Islami, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf etc were busy in playing hide and seek. Police fired hundreds of tear gas shells and baton charged those demanding a free and independent judiciary.
Model Town was the most affected locality as all of its entry and exit points were sealed and heavy contingents of police denied entry even to Model Town residents. However, after Mian Nawaz Sharif came out of his house in Model Town and broke the first barricade, the people did not care about cops wearing helmets and holding clubs in hands across the city.
Until evening, one could only witness countless heads on most of the major City roads especially Ferozpur Road, Lytton Road, The Mall, Mauj-e-Darya Road, Old Anarkali, Multan Road, Data Darbar Road and Ravi Road etc. The question asked by the police as well as the civil bureaucracy from each other was: “From where these people have come?” The mass appearance of people, most of whom were common citizens, on City roads terrified the provincial government and sensing the mood of the masses the police was directed to stay away.
Charged political activists and common citizens were also seen dancing on drum beats on the route from where the caravan of Mian Nawaz Sharif was moving. A large number of people also came out of their homes with their families. Individual females, students, youngsters and even many octogenarians were also seen chanting slogans from the rooftops of their houses along the route. People were also seen distributing juice packs, bottles of mineral water, edibles and snacks among the participants of the long march.
As the participants moved ahead, police contingents stepped back, which increased the motivation and enthusiasm of the participants and more people began to join the rally. Many people termed Sunday’s long march as the ‘Caravan of Justice’ and urged President Asif Ali Zardari to wake up and smell the coffee. Abraham Lincoln said if by mere force of numbers a majority deprived a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution, said Khurram, a banker, quoting a US president. He said he along with a dozen friends came to participate in the ‘Caravan of Justice’ because they knew this was the time for change.
“I come out on the call of Nawaz Sharif not because of the fact that he is a great leader but because the rationale for this march is just. Restoration of the judiciary is the need for the prosperity of the country as well as the nation,” said Mrs Jahanzaib, a resident of Rehmanpura. She was sitting along the Ferozpur Road to join Mian Nawaz Sharif. She said her husband had already gone to Islamabad yesterday. “I am not scared of being arrested because I know this is the only chance we have to get a free and independent judicial system,” she said.
“I was sitting in my house watching different news channels when my wife said to me that this is the time for the people to come out and support Mian Nawaz Sharif, said Mansab, a resident of Ichhra. He said his wife encouraged him to go out after which he left his home to participate in the rally.
Besides those who were physically participating in the Long March across the city, a large number of people remained glued to their television sets watching every moment of the history being made by the long march participants.

Published in Daily The News on Monday, March 16, 2009.

Terrorists may use stolen vehicles

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: The Interior Ministry has urged the Punjab government to evolve strategy to prevent the theft of government vehicles while recovering the stolen ones so that they might not be used in terrorist attacks. 
Sources in the Ministry said the warning had also been conveyed to the other provincial governments regarding the issue.
They said, presently, Punjab was the main target of the militants as the secret reports had showed that the terrorists were planning to hit the province hard.
The sources maintained that on the night of April 06-07, 2009, a white color Pothohar Jeep of the Excise and Taxation department, Khushab, was stolen by unknown persons. The jeep was bearing the registration no KBB-6600 and was of 1991 model.
Some days back some unidentified persons took away a Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) van from the Queens Road with a registration number LOT-8044.
Following the threat warning from the Interior Ministry, the Punjab Chief Minister has directed the Inspector General Police and other officials concerned to take measures to avert any untoward incident. He has also directed the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Khushab and Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore to make all efforts find the culprits and recover the stolen vehicles.
Sources in the City District Government Lahore revealed that the CM had also directed the Commissioner and the DCO of Lahore to ensure security of the public vehicles.
Following the directions, the Commissioner and DCO have directed the department concerned to specify parking spaces in public offices for secure parking of the government vehicles.
The new directions included the issuance of identification tickets for the vehicles.
Following the government’s directions the Punjab University has also issued tickets to vehicles for entry into the university premises. Other public sector and private universities are also working on the same issue, a senior official of CDGL maintained.
He said all the public departments were also directed to issue tickets to the vehicles for entry in their premises. He said the Punjab Civil Secretariat had also adopted the same policy.

Published in Daily The News on Monday, April 27, 2009.

Sikh Yatrees to be under close watch

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: The Punjab government has directed the police and district administration to keep close vigilance on the visiting Sikh Yatrees to Pakistan as the intelligence agencies have already found activities of four Yatrees suspicious. 
Quoting a letter of Interior Ministry (12/6/2009-INF.I), the Additional Secretary, the Internal Security Department of the Punjab Government informed the Provincial Police Officer/IGP Punjab, Additional IGs of Police and Special Branch/CID, all Divisional Commissioners in Punjab and All RPOs/CCPO Lahore that during the visit four Sikh Yatrees conducted themselves in an odd/suspicious manner.
Top of the list of four Sikh Yatrees is Sahib Singh son of Gurcharan Singh (passport number F-131215B). The letter said he during the visit slipped away from Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore and reappeared only at the time of departure of Yatrees at Wagah Railway Station.
Second is the Sikh Yatree having a passport number H-2135406. The letter said he was, reportedly, an employee of the Indian IB and was found monitoring the conversations between dignitaries and media and was also taking notes of different speeches. He also tried to poison the minds of Yatrees through anti Pakistan utterances.
Third is Sardar Vikramjit Singh Cheema, son of Diljit Singh (passport number F-0852007). The letter said he reportedly belongs to Indian intelligence network and was noticed gathering information from the locals on current militancy in the tribal areas. He was also found inquisitive on the conditions of Sikh Community in Pakistan.
Fourth is Jugtar Singh son of Darshan Singh (passport number H-0460290). The letter said that he had tried to collect information about militants activities in Pakistanís tribal areas. He also made efforts to procure information regarding the functions of police personnel on security duties.
The letter said that the information should be treated on top priority and appropriate action must be taken accordingly. The copy of this letter was also sent to the Punjab Chief Secretary Punjab, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary of the Punjab Chief Minister, IGP Islamabad, Joint Director General IB, Lahore, Commander MI, Lahore, Commander ISI, Lahore, Director (Operations) MOI (NCMC) Islamabad and Sector Commander, Air Intelligence, Lahore. The letter also requested the military authorities to place special emphasis for providing advance information and intelligence on the subject matter.

Published in Daily The News on Friday, April 10, 2009.

CDGL (double) standards for posh, poor areas

By Ali Raza
LAHORE: WHEN it comes to providing public facilities, the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) favours posh localities by giving much attention to aesthetics and incorporating modern technology in projects.
One can see two nicely decorated pedestrian bridges on Jail Road. These bridges were set up in front of Kinnaird College and Lahore College Women University so that students may use them to cross this busy road. Ironically, majority of students of the two colleges especially the Kinnaird College do not use these pedestrian bridges much because their families pick them up from the college entrance.
These bridges are without stairs and are covered to protect people from rain and sunlight. Flower baskets also beautify these bridges. Two policemen are usually deputed to each bridge throughout the day to ensure safety of those using bridges.
On the other hand, pedestrian bridge at Ichhra, one of the busiest commercial centres of the city, is unusable due to lack of proper maintenance, encroachments, presence of beggars and eve teasers.
There are around one dozen overhead pedestrian bridges in the City out of which two are in the vicinity of the Punjab University, one each at Ichhra, Mozang, The Mall, Delhi Gate, Queen Marry College, Badami Bagh, Bund Road, GT Road near UET and one in Cantonment area. Bridges of the Punjab University, Cantonment and Queen Marry College are not maintained by the City District Government Lahore and town administrations.
The overhead pedestrian bridges of Ichhra, Delhi Gate, Mozang are among the oldest and in a poor condition. These overhead pedestrian bridges were constructed in late 80’s by then municipal government. The overhead pedestrian bridges of Ichhra and Mozang are located on Ferozpur Road while the overhead pedestrian bridge at Delhi Gate was constructed on Circular Road.
Among the three, the overhead pedestrian bridge of Ichhra is the most-used pedestrian bridge in the City but no attention is paid on its maintenance and management. The main floor of the bridge is damaged and its floor plates have been displaced leaving gaps which could prove dangerous for people especially at night.
There is no lighting arrangement on any of the bridge and at night crossing these overhead pedestrian bridges is fraught with risks. One could be a victim of robbers waiting in dark while females could be harassed by unruly youth. The bridge is also encroached upon by a number of vendors, who display their wares on floor leaving hardly any place for pedestrians. Beggars especially children also frequent the bridges and nag people.
Unlike bridges on Jail Road, no other bridge has a ramp and it is literally impossible for aged and handicapped people to climb the stairs in the scorching heat. Railings of these bridges made of steel become very hot in summer.
Mrs Khurram, a middle age woman who was crossing the road from beneath the Ichhra pedestrian bridge, said it was very hard for her to climb stairs of the bridge. She said the bridge was occupied by encroachers, beggars and eve teasers. “Several policemen are standing under the bridge but none of them stops encroachers and beggars from bothering people,” she said.
The Circular Road’s overhead pedestrian bridge located outside Delhi Gate is not in use due to the blockage of both of its entrances by encroachers. Delhi Gate is one the major bazaars of the City and a large number of people come to this place for shopping on a daily basis. One entrance to the bridge is blocked by fruit and vegetable vendors who do not allow anyone to go upstairs while the other entrance is occupied by fish vendors. This bridge has been out of use for the last few years and has become rusty and fragile. People of the area face serious problems in crossing the Circular Road as the bridge is blocked by vendors.
The overhead pedestrian bridge at Mozang is also not in use as the main bus stop of the area has moved away from the bridge. Several vendors have also established their business under the bridge and allegedly bribe the CDGL officials concerned on a monthly basis to stay on.
Executive District Officer (Works) Khwaja Imran said pedestrian bridges of Ichhra, Mozang and Delhi Gate were constructed many years ago when available technology was different. He said presently there was no space available to construct a new bridge at these places on the pattern of Jail Road bridges. He, however, admitted that bridges could be covered to save pedestrians from sunlight and rain. He said these bridges could be decorated and illuminated to make them safe at night.
He said the department had planned to launch an awareness campaign through schoolchildren regarding the use of pedestrian bridges. He said the campaign will be launched in the coming days. He also appealed to the general public to use pedestrian bridges instead of crossing roads by breaking iron fences.
About encroachments and presence of beggars on pedestrian bridges, he said his department was only responsible for the maintenance of bridges.

Published in Daily The News on Thursday, May 21, 2009.