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New Year Resolutions for a better
city MOOD
STREET Town
Talk transport Provoking
hatred
New Year Resolutions for a better city Gas solutions We want the rulers to
stop making fool of the public. Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) pumps have
opened in Lahore recently. After suffering three days CNG off for long and
now the news that CNG is going for good, the city is likely to come up
with more LPG sale points. So far nobody talks of LPG shortage so the
public presumes we have enough LPG reserve. But it all looks like a farce.
Will the government ever inform its citizens honestly of the situation to
enable them to plan for the future so that people’s money does not go
down the drain. The wise rickshaw walas
have already converted their rickshaws to LPG while the other three
wheelers are following suit. Long queues of vehicles at petrol and gas
stations are a regular feature. Will cars also switch on to LPG? A
rickshaw driver says, “They better do that now. The kit costs Rs. 6000
at present. Two months from now it will be selling for Rs. 10,000,” he
says with certainty. Dengue control We wish this year is
free of dengue fever and we, the citizens, can move around anywhere in the
city at whatever time we want, early morning or late night. We can wear
sleeveless shirts, in spring and summer, and sweet-smelling perfumes
rather than the pungent mosquito repellants. We also want to see the
public parks crowded, lakes and swimming pools filled to the brim with
water, and majestic fountains of the city functional. Our chief minister
plans to develop over 100 playgrounds in the city. We wish to see our
children hop, skip and jump in them rather than see then abandoned due to
the dengue fear. We don’t want to live to see that happen. We are hopeful the
citizens, who endured the deadly dengue virus,, will mend their ways and
keep their environs clean. They’ll definitely ensure larvicidal sprays
and fumigations are done well in time. Let’s hope the CM realises he’s
not a superhuman and cannot justify holding around a dozen cabinet
portfolios. Once he realises this, he’ll definitely appoint a provincial
health minister who can be held accountable if, God forbid, dengue
resurfaces. Active ATMS ATM machines are
out-of-order, short of money and receipts, remained a common feature in
2011 — despite the State Bank notice. Sometimes they are not working
because of slow network or they are de-linked from the headquarters. This
is how the modern banking system, sadly, has been working for almost the
whole year in 2011. ATMs are placed for
quick draw, the reason why every small bank is trying to install it at
every place to facilitate its customers. We request our banks to take
notice of this problem, address the issue on priority and facilitate the
customers round-the-clock. Another request to banks
is to put more money in the ATMs during long holidays. Two-three days
holiday means you don’t find any money in the ATMs other than on the
first day. Off with Qing Qi Like every year we wish
the new year to be better than the last one. This year, while we wish our
government will be more responsive to our demands and advocate In 2012, we long to wake
up to the soothing chirp of birds not to the rattle and whiz of this
vehicle, we long to drive on the streets without having to dodge this
wheely, and we long to see more comfortable, economical and dignified
alternative for commuters. Address crime
While cell phone
snatching is an old story now, valet, bike, and even car snatching is
becoming common on roads. While it’s hard to name the safest streets,
the residents of the walled city have complained of snatching incidents at
night that have gone up in areas which have turned into markets. When the
shutters go down, the markets give a deserted look. Passersby in such
streets run the risk of being robbed by criminals. This calls for
attention of the police authorities.
The whole year we have
been reading news and observing incidents of street robbery even during
daylight. Crime rate is increasing day by day. Breaking into houses and
looting pedestrians is not news but a routine now. Servants and maids are
major culprits of the domestic thefts and looting, it came to the fore. New year should be aimed
to make Lahore crime free. Let’s pray this dream comes true. Export dogs Export them, says a
colleague and export means income. To where? To Hong Kong, says an
activist because they have a big dog market there can be to Korea or
China, maybe. That needs to be explored. Dogs have to be moved out of city
streets because cases of dog bites have increased considerably. Stray dogs
are a constant threat to passersby and children who play in the streets. Exporting them would be
better than killing them by giving them kuchla (poison) as is the
practice. Street dogs mostly carry rabies and there is no cure for it.
NGOs that profess to protect animal rights may protest but can animal
rights take precedence over human rights? Only last Friday there was news
of 15 dog bites in the city. Many die because of unavailability of proper
treatment. Vaccines for rabies are also short. There is only one place in
the province, PGMI (Post Graduate Medical Institute) where people get
treatment when they are bitten by dogs. We want a rabies-free country.
Exporting them will not end them because dogs are not endangered specie
and we have pure breeds because dogs are free to roam in the streets here.
Save heritage The city went through an
anti-encroachment drive in 2011 but the invasion is so deep and wide that
it cannot be removed in a year. The most serious are the ones around the
heritage sites as the damage they do to them is often irreparable. Lahore
Fort is encroached upon till Begum Shahi Mosque. This was a passage to a
gate. Take Shalamar Gardens. There is not even three feet distance between
the bagh and constructions around it. Tomb of Asif Jah, Masjid
Wazir Khan, Mughal Hamam near Delhi Gate, Sunehri Masjid, Boli Bagh and
Baradaris in Singh Pura have all been trespassed. It’s needless to say
that the heritage must be saved. Next year we hope to see
these encroachments removed. Light up We hope the nation will
keep getting whatever little electricity it receives. We don’t want to
hear of a black-out. We want our engineers and students to think of ways
to generate electricity. The city has to produce its own electricity now
or we will live in the dark for another decade. More parks, please A greener and healthier
Lahore is all the Lahorites are dreaming for in 2012. The unchecked and
unplanned urbanisation has turned the once city of gardens into a city Service delivery My doorbell rings and I
open the main gate to receive a smiling young fellow, clad in local
electric supply company’s uniform. He hands over a cross cheque drawn in
my name saying it’s for the amount which I was over-charged the previous
month. I fail to recall whether I had made any complaint or not and
surprisingly the clarification comes from this very visitor: “Sir we
have double-checked our accounts and meter readings and found you were
overcharged last month. We think it’s our duty to refund the amount as
you are our respectable customer and deserve best possible services at
your doorstep.” This is the behavioural
change that we long for whenever we or other citizens have to deal with
any government official in 2012. We know this is a wishful situation and
anything short of it can also work. At the least, the government servants
can realise that their foremost duty is to solve the problems of the
general public. Even if they cannot solve the problems, they can treat the
visitors with respect. We wish there’s a change in service rules and
promotion of a civil servant is linked to visitor satisfaction surveys and
allegiance to the ruling political elite is no more a means for them to
grow. We also wish ordinary
citizens are no more afraid of visiting police stations this year and
those going there are welcomed by the SHO on arrival and offered a seat.
The very feeling of being not treated like criminals and even respected
restores their long-lost self respect and they suddenly find a reason to
live. 50 kmph on the canal Now that the canal has
been widened beyond our expectations and all the trees that had to be cut
have been cut, may we the citizens request the authorities to enforce a
speed limit on the canal. 50 kilomteres is a desirable limit and one that
will prevent accidents. The authorities here see wide roads as a solution
for traffic problems but we see them as an incentive for overspeeding. The
adventurous motorists on the canal must be stopped at all costs. This is
for everyone’s safety. A pathway to safety The good part is, this
one should be easily manageable for the city authorities that seem to
shirk at every novel idea of managing the ever growing menace of traffic
on the roads. To lay out proper paths for pedestrians, along the roads and
on sideways, is not going to take much, especially since we have a fairly
good infrastructure of roads and streets in place already. So, Lahore —
in 2012 — should resolve to address the simple and, again, manageable
issue of pedestrians. Here, we can learn from
the model the entire world is following: not only should there be
sidewalks and paths but also zebra crossings on every cross-street, with a
traffic signal exclusively meant for the pedestrians. And, the public
should be made to observe this signal. This will not only save the
jaywalkers from putting their as well as other people’s lives in danger,
but also spare them the anxiety they experience everyday on the oh-so-busy
roads of Lahore. Yes of course I should
make resolutions for the new year… Should I resolve not to sleep beyond
six hours? In too much sleep, you lose and gain nothing. Should I reduce
my sleep? Actually, quantity of sleep does not matter, it is quality of
sleep which relaxes you. I make a lot of
resolutions every year. I hardly fulfill them. So why make them? But then
that’s negative thinking, defeatest behaviour. To live a normal life,
one must create a new illusion. Deal with life positively. What use is it
to complain, regret, rebuke and moan? It is said, “So long as we are
making an effort, we have not failed.” I would rather look
forward and dream, than look backward and regret. Now year 2011 has passed
and I should not be obsessed with my past. To think that I should have
done this or that in 2011 is a negative thinking and I need to get rid of
this feeling and head off to make 2012 a year of prosperity and progress.
What I should have done in the past and what I should do in future is an
irrelevant issue. Past is not in my hand and future is unseen. Present is
in my hand. I need to make it. As James van Praagh says in his book
Unfinished Business, “The only power we have is in the ‘now’ and our
‘now’ affects our future. We have become a society with less
self-responsibility and more blame. When something goes wrong, we seek
others (or God) to blame for our misfortune. When a tragedy occurs, we
become angry and guilt-ridden instead of seeing the opportunity to create
good from it.” An individual is a
building block of society and society makes a government, which means it
is individuals who elect good or bad people to rule them. In other words,
rulers are from us. If majority of individuals are good, rulers will be
good. So, every man needs to make himself good instead of criticising
society or its rulers. Winston Churchill’s grandmother advised him not
to speak ill of society. No matter we failed to
achieve what we wanted to get in 2011, we have another opportunity to
materialise our dreams. There is no use regretting the past. If regret is
not dealt with in a positive manner it can devastate the rest of life.
Accept the challenge to finish that which remained unfinished in 2011. It
is the challenge which brings out the best in man. Recognise the value of
others and learn from them. Leave the habit of finding faults with others
and get the habit of looking into ourselves.
*Exhibition at Alhamra
Arts Council, The Mall opening on Tuesday, Jan 3 at 3:00 pm. *Vigil in Memory of
Salmaan Taseer on Wednesday, Jan 4 at 6:00 pm at Liberty Chowk organised
by IPPS. *Exhibition: Letters to
Taseer by Faiza Butt at The Drawing Room Art Gallery opening on Thursday,
Jan 05 at 5:30 pm. This is the first of a three part series of exhibitions
dedicated to the memory of Salmaan Taseer. *Launch of Glitz Tresors
Jewelry on Friday, Jan 06 at 6:00 pm. *Visual Arts Department
Degree Show at NCA from Jan 07 - 11. *Exhibition at Grey
Noise of Bani Abidi’s works in collaboration with Green Cardamom, London
till Jan 13. Gallery timings: 5pm-9pm.
transport Last month the citizens
of Lahore got a sense of relief with 56 CNG buses added to the fleet of
Lahore Transport Company (LTC). This feeling was however short-lived when
they came to know that there was no assurance that these buses will get
CNG supply regularly, even during gas holidays. Another shock came in
the shape of violent attacks by students of MAO College and Islamia
College, Civil Lines who wanted to have a free ride. The drivers were
beaten and buses damaged by students who also snatched money from
conductors. Such events are highly discouraging for passengers who can
stop traveling in these buses if such attacks continue. There was a general
conception that if this is the situation the project will soon die a
pre-mature death and availability of a proper public transport for the
city will remain a dream. TNS talked to parties
involved and the general public to get an idea of the situation and know
about plans, if any are underway to tackle these issues. Senior Manager Operation
of LTC Tanweer Ahmad Siddiqui tells TNS they have talked to SNGPL
regarding supply of CNG to their buses during gas load-shedding. There is
hope SNGPL will cooperate but if there is any major problem there is an
alternative plan also. Under this alternative plan LTC will use MAT
system. This is a new technological solution used in the developed world
to transport and store natural gas in bulk. MAT ground storage systems can
be refilled with Compressed Natural Gas. Tanweer says they plan
to fill MATs with high volumes of CNG during gas load-shedding days. As a
successful experiment many vehicles are running on MAT system at Chakri
Road, Rawalpindi. Tanweer shares it with TNS that there are 4 to 5 MATs in
a truck and each has a capacity to store 1500 kg gas. “We can run 150
buses for one and a half days on 15,000 kg CNG which can be stored in only
10 MATs,” he adds. Tanweer says it takes 15
minutes to fill one CNG bus if pressure is adequate. Therefore, LTC has
planned to install three high-pressure CNG stations on main roads of
Lahore including Ferozepur Road, Multan Road and GT Road. Private
investors have also interest in investing in these CNG pumps on their own
bus stands, he says, adding the company has also met with the president
and officials of All Pakistan CNG Pumps Association in this connection. Regarding the LTC
request to SNGPL for gas supply during holidays, Arif Hameed, Managing
Director Sui Northern Gas Pipe Lines (SNGPL) Punjab, confirms they have
received it. He says they have forwarded the request to the head office in
Islamabad and the final decision will be taken according to the directions
coming from there. He says there is need of high gas pressure areas to
facilitate CNG filling in buses. As there is a complete ban on setting up
new CNG filling stations all over Pakistan, SNGPL has advised LTC to
improve the already installed CNG pumps in high pressure localities to
serve their purpose. Coming to the attack on
these buses, LTC General Manager Enforcement, Senior Superintendent of
Police (SSP) Kamran Khan says unfortunately at that time our enforcement
team was not present on the occasion. Had they been there, they could have
handled the situation efficiently. He tells LTC teams are
meeting teachers and student union leaders of the city and organising
lectures on the safety of public transport. “We are also working on a
plan to issue a discount card for genuine students which will be valid on
working days only.” It is hoped the students facilitated this way will
never think about traveling for free and resorting to violence. He says the students
involved in the attacks on LTC buses were given a strict warning. The LTC
went on a partial strike of five hours every day during the college
timings to express solidarity with the transporters working in partnership
with it, he adds. Kamran tells TNS that
unfortunately the college administrations have not taken any action
against the culprits who had brought bad name to these colleges. He says
these college administrations must realise that the whole city had
suffered due to the mistake of a few and in future they must deal strictly
with such forces. About the LTC’s
mechanism to handle incidents of violence in future, he says the company
is training its enforcement staff on modern lines to evolve an efficient
system. The staff will act immediately in case of any attack on a bus or
LTC staff. “Our enforcement inspectors are getting rigorous training
from different police training schools in the province.” LTC is also
finalising its plan to get its enforcement staff trained by Pakistan
Rangers, he concludes.
The poster evokes hatred
for a neighbouring country. This is not just one rickshaw displaying such
a poster at its back. Many others have been seen on city roads. Can anyone
go about rousing hatred among people? Is this allowed by law? Of course
not. Then why doesn’t the police take it off the rickshaws. How is anyone calling
people to retaliate and avenge the desecration of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya
that took place two decades back in 1990, to take revenge of the
Muslims’ massacre in Gujrat in 2002 and of the blowing up of Samjhota
Express in 2006. What does anyone gain from instilling hatred among the
masses? They are perpetrating anarchy. This must be checked. |
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and implement laws responsibly, we urge it to clear the mess (read noise)
it created some years ago to win a few votes by supplying this big
metallic bird that whizzes through the congested city streets, oozes with
passengers, makes the deafening brrrrrrrr. It’s a pain. It’s the
Qingqi, the motorcycle rickshaw. 
of concrete. All that we and our children miss the most in this city are
public parks and playgrounds. The government should allocate more land and
more funds for gardens and playgrounds in different areas of the city. It
ought to be done so that our citizens are not left at the mercy of fast
moving traffic when they go on a morning walk and our children do not
smash windowpanes of our neighbours while playing cricket in the street. .jpg)
