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    A Cycle and Pedestrian Friendly Islamabad?

    Launch of Bicycle Lane in Islamabad

    Written by: Dr. Dushka H. Saiyid
    Posted on: November 15, 2016 | | 中文

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    The older citizens of Islamabad remember a pollution-free capital, where there was little traffic and parking was not a problem. It was a time when Shakarparian was still covered with a thick forest, and almost 1 km had not been cleared for industrial exhibition, later converted into a parade ground. Bani Gala was part of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) and the catchment area for the Rawal Lake, and the elite had yet to make a land grab there. Through CDA’s negligence (although Chairman CDA Fariduddin Ahmed tried to save Bani Gala in the ‘90s, to his great cost), huge chunks of the green lungs of the city have been lost to mindless deforestation and construction. Consequently, the temperature of the city has gone up a few degrees.

    With the election of Sheikh Ansar Aziz as the mayor of Islamabad in early 2016, and his additional charge as Chairman CDA quite recently, for the first time the environmental concerns of Islamabad’s citizens are being addressed. His point man on environment is a dynamic young bureaucrat who has been brought in from the Punjab. Suleyman Khan Warraich has been made Member Environment, CDA, and the CEO of the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation. He is making his presence felt in the stagnant and corrupt local administration of the city, and is responsive to the civil society’s suggestions for the improvement of the city’s environment.

    Launch of Bicycle Lane in Islamabad

    Green Force members Hasan Omar, Saima Omar and Dr. Dushka Saiyid

    Green Force, a group of environmentalists, had been lobbying for years for making Islamabad into a pedestrian and bicycle friendly city, but without any success. With the advent of the new Mayor, things are beginning to change. On 12th November, a new bicycle lane was launched starting from the D-Chowk, opposite the Presidency, to the roundabout near Serena where the Constitution Avenue begins: a short distance, but an important beginning towards a network of bicycle lanes that the Green Force and the Islamabad cyclists’ organization, Critical Mass Islamabad (CMI), have been lobbying for. Ironically, bicycles were not allowed in the F-9 Park which covers 750 acres of land. Led by Warraich and assisted by members of the Green Force, plans are afoot for a new bicycle track in the F-9 Park.

    Launch of Bicycle Lane in Islamabad

    (L) Khwaja Zaheer of the Critical Mass Islamabad, (R) Cristina Afridi of the Green Force addressing the cyclists

    Launch of Bicycle Lane in Islamabad

    Zehra Kamal of the Critical Mass Islamabad

    According to a World Bank report of 2015, Islamabad was the fastest growing city of Pakistan: its population had increased by 73% over the last 10 years, and was projected to grow by 66% over the next fifteen years. One reason for this growth is the influx of people from the KPK province because of the unsettled conditions there. To deal with the challenges that Islamabad faces, one must reckon with the fact that its twin city Rawalpindi has a population of 3 million, many of whom commute to Islamabad, and flood the city on weekends and holidays.   

    Lately Islamabad has begun to be covered by a haze caused by pollution during the winter months. The Islamabad Municipal Corporation must focus on preserving the city’s environment by providing a network of mass transit that would cover the city, making it bicycle and pedestrian friendly. It was a pleasure to see the Mayor and his team on bikes followed by scores of men, women and children. Sheikh Ansar announced that Islamabad was the first city in Pakistan that has signed the Green Charter to adopt the UN Urban Environmental Accords. The challenge is whether we can move beyond symbolism, and transform Islamabad into an environmentally model city of Pakistan, where people move around in trams, and the pedestrians and cyclists rule the roost.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021