KARACHI: The challenges facing the metropolis’s transport infrastructure and their possible solutions were discussed at a seminar held here on Monday.

“In the West, they talk more about mobility than transport. They talk more of non-motorised transport where paths and walkways matter,” said urban planner Farhan Anwar at the workshop on ‘Engaging Government Officials and Elected Representatives on Promoting Accessible Streets in Karachi’ organised by Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment with the support of Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit and in collaboration with NOWPDP at a local hotel.

Mr Anwar’s presentation titled ‘Accessible Streets Karachi — a Vision and Roadmap for Inclusive Development’ explained their project which they started work on in August last year. “We are trying to understand Karachi’s transport challenges, causes and implications before we go into the solutions,” he said. “For this we have carried out discussions, held dialogues and consultancies with many stakeholders such as people from academia, civil society, media and the roles they can play in making streets more accessible for all including the most vulnerable people such as those with special needs,” he said. “Now we are inviting district municipal corporations (DMCs) and Karachi Metropolitan Corpor­ation (KMC) too to see their interest in making this happen.”

Sharing examples of cities such as Bogota, the capital of Colombia, which some time back got a visionary mayor who changed the city, gave it back its public spaces, which in turn improved its economy, and India where things have also been changed for the better, he said Shehri’s vision for Karachi included things such as quality of life, sustainable mobility, inclusivity and economic revitalisation.

“This city of Karachi is comfortable for some and very uncomfortable for many,” he said. “If we are building flyovers, who are they helping? The motorists of course. So what about pedestrians, people on bicycles and persons with special needs?” He asked while talking about the things which really matter in making a city and its spaces more people-friendly such as affordability, accessibility.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2019