Streets drive the economy and community

Rawalpindi : Rawalpindi streets have always accommodated various activities. They highlight their role as vital sites of work. Public open spaces in cities are scarce. Traditionally, streets have served as multifunctional spaces, accommodating various users and activities, and playing a vital role in daily life.

“For example, main streets are a popular spot for joggers and fitness enthusiasts in the early mornings and transform into a social hub during evenings where people gather to relax, watch the sunset, and enjoy street food,” says Asad Ali.

“While urban planning has historically looked at streets merely as routes for mobility, citizens have shifted the focus to seeing streets as places of work. This particular narrative looks at the crucial role of streets as places of work wherein streets provide a platform for the informal sector like street vendors, and auto-rickshaw drivers to thrive and enable access to affordable goods and services for citizens,” says Tanveer Hussain.

“With the rapid pace of urbanization and the growing focus on streets as places of refreshment, there is a pressing need to advocate for streets as places of work and thus recognize their significance in sustaining livelihoods. This approach can create opportunities to boost the informal economy and thereby, transform streets into equitable, safe, and comfortable spaces for citizens,” says Farman Hasan.

“The informal sector accounts for over half of the country’s GDP, making it a crucial contributor to the economy. However, most streets are not designed to support this sector, making it difficult for players from the sector, such as street vendors, to sustain their livelihoods. As a result, many vendors are forced to occupy footpaths, which pushes pedestrians onto the traffic lane, exposing the latter to chaotic traffic and creating unsafe conditions for everyone,” says Shahzad Naqvi.

“On the newly revamped streets, for example, there is a constant struggle between pedestrians and street vendors, as vendors do not have sufficient designated spaces. The lack of adequate space for taxis results in their halting and parking on the traffic lane, obstructing moving traffic,” says Zameer Zaidi.

“During a field research, I asked a street vendor how long he had been working there. He responded saying I have had my cart here for 30 years; my life and livelihood function because of this street only. But street transformation initiatives often exclude a significant number of individuals like him, who use streets as regular places of work,” says Qaem Raza.

Lisan Haider says, “How many influential people do you see as street vendors? How many of them are sanitation workers? How many of them are living in slums? How many rich people are out on the streets engaged in street vending? You will of course see food trucks. However, who has the capital to invest in a truck and fancy paints and graphics to attract people?