Re: United States of Punjab ?
Whatever benefit a flyer over brings to Lahore and Karachi. KPK was getting a lot of flak for not doing any PMLN style 'major' and 'tangible' infrastructure project, so here it is. Other than, I'm not a local so can't really comment on that issue.
KPK is a poor province, it can't possibly think of spending 50 billion on a bus service for just a city! The government of KPK was thinking of launching its own significantly cheaper mass transit system but Federal government cleverly pitched Pakistan Railways against the provisional government in guise of reserving the route for the second Peshawar- Karachi rail track. So this project probably won't ever see the daylight.
But luckily Peshawar has managed to curb majority of its traffic woes by improving the existing road network by bit of fixing here and there and introducing professional traffic wardens.
If it was that easy to get mass transit system approved from the centre then Karachi would have got a mass transit system many moons ago. No other city in Pakistan deserves a mass transit system more than Karachi.
My understanding is that the economic benefits of an efficient mass transit network would outweigh the cost of the project overall.
First of all, Peshawar is a major city, and its economic development would mean benefit for the entire province. Cities are the engines of growth in any economy..
Now im sure there are middle class wage earners in Peshawar who would stand to gain by being able to get to work and back in a way thats safe, stress free, and affordable. So those are three major benefits right there. First its safe for the elderly, women and children trying to get to school or where-ever their going. People who would otherwise have weave through traffic on motorcycles, can now get to where they need to be without endangering their life or health.
It cuts pollution so its healthier for that reason as well, less smog.
As somone who hass seen the traffic in Pakistan, its a pain for EVERYONE... As a pedestrian you constantly have to watch out for cars and motorcycles because many places dont have footpaths. As a driver you have to be aware of EVERYTHING, on motorcycle like wise... It is genuinely the least enjoyable part of Pakistan. Getting from point A to B is stressful even on short trips, imagine doing it everyday. The vans they have are cramped, your constantly getting someone elbow in the ribs, women have been harassed on these transports... The noise pollution alone is enough to drive you insane.
As far as improving road networks. I agree that roads should be upgraded and maintained. But its an established fact around the world that building more roads is only a temporary solution. As NY'ers discovered during the time of Robert Moses, more roads mean more places for traffic jams.
KP may be a poor province, but its certainly not richer for lack of public transport. Public transport is a major investment, but an essential one. In the long run it would help the city and the province as a whole. i would put transport as essential as education and healthcare.
Politics aside, the benefits of the metro bus is far outweighs the potential cost over its life time. Imagine all those people who save money by using Public transport, can now use that money to buy other essential goods and services. They save TIME, which can be used more effectively. And the long term benefit in terms of improved health due to reduced stress and pollution is I think a beg benefit as well. PML N wins this one... It just seems the KP govt is letting its ego get in the way. They dont want to give any credit to the PML N, especially since IK has denounced the whole metro thing as a waste.
