Mass Transit: A Breath of Fresh Air for Smoggy Cities
Iftikhar Ahmed
Faisalabad: Unbridled population growth, mass migration from rural areas, and a surging number of vehicles have turned major cities like Faisalabad into suffocating environments.
Each winter, smog blankets the city, exposing its over four million residents to serious health risks.
With smoke-emitting vehicles dominating the roads, Faisalabad struggles with both air quality and transportation woes, rendering daily life increasingly challenging.
Pollution from loaders, buses, cars, bikes, and rickshaws—many of which run on substandard fuel—combined with emissions from brick kilns and industrial units, has created a toxic atmosphere.
The ineffective implementation of environmental laws, poor urban planning, and the absence of a mass transit system further exacerbate the situation, making life miserable for the citizens.
Empower, Engage, Evolve
Experts are sounding the alarm and suggesting a range of solutions. They advocate for stringent actions against polluting vehicles and industries, alongside the urgent need for a comprehensive traffic and mass transit system to alleviate the nuisance of QingQi rickshaws.
Despite the current chaotic state of the road transport system, past successes in regulation provide hope for change.
Rana Munir Ahmed, a retired government official, recalls the efforts of Tasneem Noorani, the Commissioner of Faisalabad in the early 1990s, who pioneered the city’s master plan and urban transport regulations.
Noorani’s Faisalabad Urban Transport System (FUTS) was widely recognized for its positive impact. “His legacy was carried forward by Deputy Commissioner Naseem Sadiq,” Ahmed noted.
“Now, once again, the city direly needs a well-planned mass transit system to reduce vehicular population on roads and control traffic congestion.”
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Deteriorating Transit Systems
Launched in 1994, the existing urban transport system initially served 20 routes, catering to approximately 1.7 million residents.
However, the system’s decline has paralleled the city’s explosive population growth, now reaching four million.
The gap in urban transport has been filled by QingQi rickshaws, which have only worsened traffic conditions and environmental pollution.
Similarly, a government project to introduce large buses in 1999 faded into obscurity, leaving the burden of transportation once again on private small wagons and rickshaws.
Recognizing the critical need for reform, the Punjab government is now planning a new, systematic mass transit system aimed at addressing Faisalabad’s traffic and pollution issues.
A Ray of Hope
Chaudhary Muhammad Asif, Managing Director of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), announced plans for a metro bus service, which promises to be an affordable and comfortable intra-city transport option for residents.
“The present Punjab government has planned to run metro buses on 35 routes under a project to be completed in phases,” Asif informed.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to fund this ambitious project, estimated to cost Rs 70 billion, aimed at providing a dignified travel option for middle-class and low-income groups.
“Initial work on this project is being completed in consultation with stakeholders. FDA will execute it, and the government will provide 100 vehicles to ply on eight busy routes,” Asif detailed.
The identified routes will include major thoroughfares, enhancing connectivity across the city. The project aims to extend the network of environmentally friendly buses to cover 35 routes within a 40-kilometer radius of Faisalabad in subsequent phases.
While the prospect of a mass transit system is promising, private transporters express skepticism, fearing the loss of their business.
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Anwar Khan, a wagon owner, voiced concerns about the feasibility of big buses in a congested metropolis like Faisalabad, citing past failures. “The government should devise a comprehensive transport system on a public-private partnership basis,” he urged.
However, such arguments seem driven by vested interests worried about losing their monopolistic hold on transportation.
If mass transit systems can thrive in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, and Karachi, why not in Faisalabad? The need for a modern transport solution is critical, and the government must move swiftly to implement this project.
Towards a Breath of Fresh Air
As Faisalabad grapples with choking traffic and relentless pollution, the call for a well-planned mass transit system has never been more urgent.
With the streets feeling ungovernable and traffic wardens overwhelmed, the residents of Faisalabad deserve a sustainable solution to ease their suffering. The time for action is now—a metro bus service could offer a breath of fresh air to a city yearning for change.
