In Pakistan over the years we have seen commercial and residential structures like flats, houses, shopping plazas, restaurants, hotels, etc. being built without much planning or consideration for either the wellbeing and rights of citizens or for the environment.

A good example of this is the generally haphazard manner in which such construction has been done in the major cities, in particular in Karachi and Lahore. In most instances, there is no space for parking for vehicles of the people who are expected to visit the commercial establishments. The result is that such unplanned structures where the builders have not followed zoning rules and regulations often exacerbate existing problems which residents of cities like Karachi may face – like traffic jams and literally having no space to walk on the roadsides for pedestrians.

An example of this is a recent shopping mall that has been constructed in a space of less than a year. It is situated right before a flyover in Karachi and the area is known to be a traffic bottleneck. Allowing a shopping mall to be built in that location with the expected increased vehicular flow was a terrible idea and decision and will severely worsen an already bad traffic situation on what is a major road in Karachi.

This serious challenge to the quality of lives of citizens as a result of illegally built and badly planned buildings is not........

© The Friday Times