Greenery initiative.

Byline: Raihan A.K. Lodhi - Karachi

THE Sindh government published a large-sized advertisement (Jan 17) highlighting the steps taken by it to promote and achieve environmental improvement by developing urban forests over 500 acres in major cities in the province under its urban forestry initiative.

The advertisement stated that 500 avenue kilometres of roadside plantation had been established on various roads during the last year. Confirmation of the accuracy and efficiency of the stated steps is hardly possible and the factual position is diametrically opposite at least in Karachi.

A visit to major thoroughfares in the megapolis reveals that not only the footpaths, but also the wide medians and road islands, have been given the concrete treatment across the city during the last three years.

Sharea Faisal, University Road, Sindh High Court and Fawara Chowk roundabouts, and two newly-built major roads connecting Malir cantonment with University Road are but a few examples.

This has deprived the already parched city from substantial green cover. However, this action is also benefiting certain people and groups. Whenever any repair work of any utility service is undertaken on/along the roads, the concrete blocks are removed and the place requires refurbishment with new blocks - if luckily any such refurbishment ever happens. This means business.

Moreover, the concreted medians on all roads in Scheme 33 and Gulistan-i-Jauhar areas are being encroached upon in the form of makeshift, but long-term, restaurants, mechanical workshops, barbershops...