Even 20 years ago, one could drive in any direction in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad area and eventually come across rolling fields of crops and fodder and miles of open countryside. Sadly, due to overpopulation and increasing urban sprawl, much of this lush landscape has been changed for the worse. It has become a concrete jungle full of unplanned housing, causing pollution and straining resources such as power, water and gas. There is also a very real danger of our agricultural lands disappearing, leading to even more severe and widespread food insecurity.
It is imperative for the government and other concerned stakeholders to come together and act now to save our farms. Above all, the population must be brought under control on an emergency basis within the next five years. We also need to implement a strict nationwide limit on the expansion of urban housing schemes into green areas. Urban growth must evolve towards a vertical model that prioritizes building more homes using less space within established city limits.
Nayab Ahmad
Rawalpindi
In the Pakistan of high inflation, an ordinary person cannot pay rent as their electricity bills often exceed the...
Pakistan is at a critical juncture, with recent events highlighting the need for constructive dialogue. The Pashtun...
The long-awaited surgery of the Pakistan cricket team has begun. The first four to go are Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam,...
The gas connection in our area is highly unreliable, with the gas supply prone to random disruptions regardless of the...
Many problems ordinary citizens in Pakistan encounter may be due to limited awareness or indifferent attitudes towards...
The recent crackdown on peaceful protestors outside the Karachi Press Club is a harsh reminder of how easily the...