On a recent domestic PIA flight, I was intrigued by an unusual in-flight announcement. After mechanically uttering the standard instructions, the hostess went on to say that the airline had launched a ‘V1 development project’ and the upgraded services being offered were a part of this new initiative.

As there was no evidence of anything that appeared to be different, I asked the air hostess if she could explain what she meant by the ‘V1 project’ and how was it related to the flight, service or the passengers. She said she had no idea and was merely reading out a written announcement. I then asked the same question from the flight purser and he was equally clueless.

By definition, V1 is the speed beyond which an aircraft’s take-off should not be aborted. Hence one would expect continuation and improvement. But, on the flight it was obvious that this impressive sounding, hi-tech cliché had been adopted only to appear modern and innovative, while the programme itself was limited largely to papers, in-flight announcements and power-point presentations. A change in uniform, aircraft insignias and wishy-washy ‘digital footprints’ amounted to further wastage of resources, especially when the organisation had no intention of changing its primary work processes or practices.

Many ‘beautification’ projects, such as ones in Nathiagali, are mindless and purely cosmetic

The V1 model for showcasing progress is quite similar to that of skin-whitening cream advertisements suggesting quick fixes, superficial appearances and expedited marriages. Sadly, such marketing has made the new ‘development’ model in Pakistan widely acceptable. A plethora of mindless cosmetic projects have mushroomed in every city mimicking the V1 development model. Essentially based on window dressing at the tax-payers’ expense, the V1 philosophy focuses on appearances instead of functionality, suitability, sustainability or benefit to ordinary people.

While the ‘V1 development’ philosophy is behind nearly every project, here are some manifestations of its adoption at the small hill station of Nathiagali.

Narrow, winding muddy tracks, developed naturally over hundreds of years, laden with fallen leaves, foliage and roots, were always a great attraction for trekkers on the mountains. Prompted by the V1 fever and the commercial interests of consultants, contractors and contract-givers, there is a rush to disfigure these outstanding natural tracks into cement and tile structures, without any consideration for the aesthetics. Every single brick amounts to taking away a small piece of the forest.

The natural-stone walls along the road have been painted — interestingly the tree stumps have also been painted without any consideration for nature, in the name of tourist attraction. One is shocked to see flowerless flowerpots made of non-biodegradable materials hammered into natural-stone walls as a part of beautification project. That it is being done at tax-payers’ expense is another sore point.

Around the world, emphasis is on keeping tourist spots clean and pollution-free. But here untreated sewage from posh hotels is openly released on to the small walkways or down the slopes of the mountains. The Galiyat Development Authority conveniently looks the other way because the pollution is not visible to the tourists who stick to the main roads.

Likewise, while the main roads are cleaned, trash is allowed to accumulate in the forest, tracks and picnic spots. There is neither an arrangement to clean the leftover trash nor a mechanism to hold the violators accountable. The pristine forest areas are now beginning to look like poorly-maintained urban landfills.

In another initiative, cement floors and fancy stalls have been built to convert a large natural path into a shopping centre. The stalls were never put to any use and stand abandoned for the last three years. It is a perfect example of V1 development, where focus is on appearances, wastage of tax-payers’ money, environmental degradation but is devoid of any benefit to the ordinary citizens.

A bench initially placed under the shade of a tree has been missing for almost three years now.

A plethora of mindless cosmetic projects have mushroomed in every city mimicking the V1 development model. Essentially based on window dressing at the tax-payers’ expense, the V1 philosophy focuses on appearances instead of functionality, suitability, sustainability or benefit to ordinary people.

As part of an ‘image-building’ project, three years ago, the cleaners were given yellow jackets. Like other projects, the effort was cosmetic and never intended to actually provide suitable dress or uniform that is appropriate to the task at hand. It was evidently a one-time effort and was soon forgotten as the cleaners are back to their private clothes and their old work processes.

The V1 development brought no benefits to the ordinary workers in terms of providing them suitable dress or equipment. Picking trash or cow dung, workers are forced to perform these demeaning and dirty tasks without appropriate tools or safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, shoes and masks.

As if all this were not enough, one can see boards nailed on hundreds of trees, with jargon and mumbo jumbo quotes. It perhaps provides an excellent summary of the V1 philosophy of development. Disrespect for trees and environment, use of clichés that mean nothing to the ordinary people, focus on appearances, wastage of tax payers’ money and no improvement to the primary processes is all that one can see.

From airlines to urban centres, there is a need to recognise and reject the shallow V1 development philosophy and seek solutions that are environment friendly, sustainable and beneficial for ordinary people.

Published in Dawn, EOS, July 15th, 2018