Expanding security

Pakistan has experienced a huge number of unfortunate terrorist incidents over the past few years, especially attacks on hotels and security installations. These attacks led to increased fear of more such attacks on public offices. In the meantime, most offices have increased security by installing wire fences and concrete walls. No doubt the security of these important state offices is of primary concern, but some of these spaces have extended their security walls in the middle of public roads and some have encroached footpaths. This extension of security walls is causing major hurdles in the flow of traffic and the movement of pedestrians. Pedestrians seem to have been left no option other than walking between vehicles.

In a country where the roads and footpaths are already turning into parking sites and business centres, this increasing extension of security cordons on to the roads and footpaths of the cities is infringing the rights of the citizens. The departments concerned with town planning must take notice of this issue because it has also been observed that some of these security walls are turning into permanent boundary walls.

Muhammad Irfan Chourbati

Karachi