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POSSIBLY the most dangerous space in Pakistan lies between the Punjab chief minister and a pet project.
The head of archaeology learned this the hard way when he was moved from his post overnight for refusing to issue an NOC for the Orange Line train project for contravening the Antiquities Act that prohibits construction within 200 feet (61 metres) of protected historical monuments. His successor issued one within 24 hours.
Deaf to arguments as he bulldozes his way over objections, Shahbaz Sharif is convinced that he knows better than all the experts who oppose him. As an example, take the ongoing controversy over his Orange Line project that is set to destroy and diminish much of Lahore’s rich heritage, as well as displace tens of thousands.
According to an article by Moazzam Husain on these pages recently, the Punjab government is getting a loan of $1.6 billion from China for a Chinese consortium to build a 27-kilometre-long train line that cuts across some of Lahore’s most historical and crowded areas. Servicing and repaying this loan will come to $300,000 a day over 20 years. To generate this amount, passengers will have to pay Rs160 per journey, assuming all trains are full. Anything less will mean a subsidy that the taxpayers will have to fork out.
Who wants to see ugly iron tracks next to Mughal architecture?
Does Lahore really need this train? Not on the evidence provided to me recently by Lahore’s well-known architect and planner, Kamil Khan Mumtaz. Apparently, out of the million or so of Lahore’s daily journeys to school, shops and work, 60pc are on foot, and 30pc are on bicycles and motorbikes. All these journeys take 20-30 minutes, and are within 2km to 5km.
The city’s topography, demographics and economics do not call for a train to solve Lahore’s traffic problems. This is a low-rise, low-income city with dispersed business districts that would be far better served by buses travelling along reserved lanes, as they do in many other cities. Clearing footpaths of encroachments would make it easier to walk to one’s destination.
The experience of other low-income, low-density cities is not encouraging. Mexico City’s 201km metro network accounts for only 14pc of all daily trips. In Kolkata, only 10pc of all trips are on the city’s 17km of railway track. And while Shanghai is hardly a low-income city, its 82km network of metro and overland trains accounts for just 2pc of the city’s traffic.
According to traffic experts, rail is the worst possible solution for Lahore’s needs. Apart from the swathe of desolation that will follow in the wake of the tracks, their present alignment will serve very few of Lahore’s residents. And among the many historical sites the project will blight are the Shalamar Gardens, the jewel in Lahore’s crown.
Although we are assured by Shahbaz Sharif that the tracks will skirt around the walls of the Gardens, vibrations from the train as well as the construction machinery will surely damage the foundations. And who wants to see ugly raised iron tracks next to one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture? Only a little over a kilometre of the tracks will travel underground. Taking them all below the surface, despite the cost, would at least minimise the vandalism.
Then there is the human tragedy of thousands of residents being thrown out of their homes to make way for the chief minister’s dream. Entire communities are up in arms to protect their homes and their places of work. They are being supported by a few activists and environmentalists to whom their city is very dear, but thus far, they are fighting a losing battle.
Just as we build cities, they shape us in subtle ways. A green, gracious city is conducive to civilised behaviour. And generations of residents have taken pride in their city full of Mughal and colonial architectural treasures. I have spent many years there, and have wonderful friends and happy memories.
However, whenever I visit Lahore now, I see many changes, not always for the better. And unsurprisingly, ugly shopping plazas are breeding like rabbits.
The world over, there is tension between the requirements of growing cities and the need to preserve the past. But if done with care and sensitivity, these two can be reconciled. However, running a train through Lahore’s historic heart is not the way to preserve its charm.
Responding to an appeal from the group trying to block the project, Unesco has written to the government to insist that Shalamar Gardens, a World Heritage Site, is not disturbed in any way. Shahbaz Sharif has said he would be happy to get advice from their experts.
However, had he talked to local architects, planners and other stakeholders before unilaterally deciding the train’s trajectory, we would not be where we are. Going by the chief minister’s track record, it is doubtful if he will allow economic, social or environmental considerations to derail his Orange Line train.
Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2015
