What do Pindiites want local leaders to address?

Rawalpindi : Residents of Rawalpindi have voiced several concerns and put forward demands for clean air, better mobility, and housing. Every one of the candidates contesting in the local bodies polls campaigned to garner votes. Every one of them made their poll promises during the campaigns, but very few were fulfilled.

“Voters in the city want pending issues to be addressed. They have many demands that they are putting forward for the political parties and their candidates representing the different constituencies in the city,” says Naqi Ali.

“A few such demands that the city’s residents like to highlight for the progress of the city are demands for a better environment in the city. Reduce the high density of polluting industries and unabated environmental violations by them. Please allow no further industrial expansion,” says Zegham Abbas.

“Ensure that the health of city residents is not compromised by the polluting industries. Air pollution is a health emergency. There should be increased air monitoring and suitable action on priority,” adds Zegham.

“Assess the city’s water needs and increase water resources by adopting a mix of traditional conservation practices and modern technology,” says Ali Akbar.

“There is also an issue of waste management. Encourage waste segregation, recycling, and disposal. Improve sewerage management of the city and stop unscientific disposal and discharge. Ensure illegal practices of manual cleaning are abolished through strict enforcement,” says Harsam Raza.

“People also demand better mobility in Rawalpindi. We need streets that ensure the safe mobility of all users and prioritize sustainable mobility i.e. walking, cycling, and public transport. The design of streets, how spaces are used etc. need to be seen from this perspective,” says Wafa Zahra.

“We need a network of usable good footpaths, safe pedestrian crossing and suitable shade and other infrastructure to make walking safe, easy, and comfortable for all,” says Jarri Abbas.

Darian Haider says, “Increase the bus fleets. Our city currently has an inadequate bus fleet of mostly old buses. The Government must set a benchmark of buses per lakh population. We must meet that benchmark to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles and traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and road traffic deaths.”