In recent weeks, Islamabad has witnessed a flurry of activity with the inauguration of flyovers and underpasses aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving mobility across a rapidly expanding city — a trend mirrored in other major provincial cities. These projects reflect two underlying realities: Pakistan's population is growing at an unsustainable pace, and our limited public resources are increasingly being diverted simply to keep up with that growth.

Every new flyover is a reminder that Pakistan is trying to build its way out of a demographic challenge it refuses to confront. But how long can we keep constructing more roads, multi-level highways and sprawling housing developments? Each new project diverts scarce resources from social development — while adding heavy environmental costs.

For a country positioned near the bottom of the Human Development Index and burdened with child and infant mortality rates like those in sub-Saharan Africa, national investment must shift decisively........

© The Express Tribune