Concrete jungles

The closure of a famous and popular restaurant in Margalla Hills, Islamabad was unfortunate but necessary. It was built on a declared national park and wildlife reserve area. It was indeed a very picturesque location and the outlet was popular amongst foreigners and the elite of this country. The owners should be given preference in allotment of a suitable place in the city. When unchecked commercialization is facilitated by regulatory bodies like the CDA, the environment suffers a major setback and pollution is allowed to rise. The owners of this restaurant should not be blamed in isolation as they could not have built it without the approval and consent of the higher administrative and regulatory authorities.

It was under General Musharraf’s rule that concrete jungles started replacing what were once green pastures, forests and national parks. Since then, this madness has continued unabated. It has polluted the environment to the point that even the air in our major cities has become toxic and reduces the life expectancy of those who breathe it by up to seven years. But this does not seem to bother those in the corridors of power. The insatiable greed of a few has become a burden for the vast majority of peaceful, law abiding citizens of Pakistan. There is a need to address this problem urgently.

Malik Tariq Ali

Lahore