obility, on a societal level, refers to the ability to move between different places for the purpose of employment, education or otherwise using different modes of transport. Considering this, there is no doubt that mobility is a major issue in Pakistan, especially in urban centres.

The number of cars in the cities keeps increasing, adding to the congestion in these urban centres. Consequently, the roads are widened to try and accommodate more vehicles while space for activities like walking and cycling keeps shrinking. The public transport remains insignificant. It is highly commendable therefore that a book titled Rethinking Mobility (Urban Transport Policy) in Pakistan has been authored by Dr Nadeem ul Haque and Dr Muhammad Rizwan.

The book was launched as the second publication in the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Urban Monograph Series in 2020. It covers all aspects of the much needed urban transport policy in Pakistan. It extends the debate on the urban planning issues, highlighted in the first publication of the PIDE Urban Monograph series, and builds on the idea of mobility for urban cities.

It can be said that the first publication was focused on a narrower issue of parking in high-rise buildings. The latest book provides a solution for developing an efficient urban mobility mechanism in Pakistan’s cities. This book talks about a more holistic solution to a common problem for residents of big cities.

It starts by laying down a brief overview of the objectives of an urban transport policy. The framework and components of an urban transportation system are discussed in depth. Not only does it lay down the principles of an efficient transport system, but it also explains global practices of urban development with help of existing literature. This is particularly important to understand the rationale behind an urban transport policy before such a practice can be adopted in the local context.

Using the principles of urban development and the lessons learnt from across the world, the book criticises the focus of urban planners on the sprawl model of city planning where the two main elements of any city plan are low-rise single family housing and repeated widening of the roads to accommodate for rampant urban migration and movement.

This criticism of planners seems valid due to the exclusion of low-income families from home ownership in urban areas and the rise of tenancy. The book, however, should have highlighted the shortsighted approach in planning for city development as the urban developments did not immediately cause a rise in housing and mobility costs, instead these issues evolved over a period of time.

It is essential to recognise that urban transport includes more than vehicles. Any policy must provide for the needs for all forms of mobility including walking and cycling. 

This shows that the city planners’ approach might have served the purpose in the short-run. It clearly did not adhere to long-term changes in the urban fabric and social needs of these cities. The book should have identified this differentiation and thus emphasised the need for a long-term approach to urban development and planning.

The book has, in the chapter on urban transport planning, rightly emphasised the need for switching from congestion-responsive actions to demand forecasting. One major reason why our policies are not effective in the long-term is the reactionary approach of the policymakers. A mitigation is attempted after a problem has arisen. However, no preemptive measures are adopted. For sustained urban development, it is important that the planners and policymakers develop a forward looking policy, based on forecasting. The importance of being proactive in urban transport policy decisions is the need of the hour. It has been rightly underscored in the book.

It is essential to recognise that urban transport includes more than vehicles. As the title of the book mentions ‘mobility’, such a policy must provide for the needs for all forms of mobility including walking and cycling. With development of technology and the need for environmental sustainability, the book rightly highlights the importance of an urban transport policy while keeping the environment in mind. The use of e-bikes and e-scooters must also be increased by making these available throughout the cities.

Any effective transport policy in urban areas will limit the use of private vehicles and encourage as well facilitate the use of alternatives for the people. For this, a transit-oriented development is required throughout the city. Ensuring connectivity through these alternatives throughout the city is essential for the success of any urban transport policy aimed at easing intra-city mobility.

Obviously, there will always be significant challenges in developing an urban transport policy. The barriers to such a policy could break out due to an ineffective local government set up, lack of transport professionals — particularly those with a global experience — and the lack of coordination with the private sector for investing in such projects. The book goes on to lay down some basic principles for urban transport design and construction.

It is important to differentiate between road types i.e. expressways, arteries, collectors and local streets and identifying where which ones need to be constructed. Each and every one of these have their separate utility and must be constructed accordingly. For instance, while an expressway or a freeway is meant to support free flow of traffic, signalised junctions are important for residential areas.

An efficient and effective urban transport mechanism is important for an inclusive development of cities and functional societies. It is essential that traffic monitoring and violation tracking is effective. Strict measures must be employed for obtaining driving licensesand checking the fitness of vehicles. Employing technology is vital for developing efficient urban transport systems. Various digital applications like Intelligent Transport System (ITS) focusing on enhanced public travel safety, managing operational capacity of city transport systems, interagency coordination, provision of necessary data as well as many other important options for making the system effective can come in handy.

The writer is a research fellow at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics