Karachi's powers that be have been talking about embarking on a number of huge development projects over the last few years. Of course the city has already seen a lot of "development" projects including a number of overpasses, the infamous underpass ("Asia's longest!") which flooded in the 2006 rains, and the tragic Northern Bypass bridge which collapsed within a week of its inauguration leading to many deaths.
Now the city is embarking on yet another set of "megacity development projects" - and its taking an $800 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to do so. The projects will mostly focus on the Shahrah-e-Faisal signal-free corridor and various other road projects, and there is only a trivial mention of a bus system and light rail. The problem with this "development" is that it benefits only rich people - those who own cars - and neglects the needs of the vast majority who desperately need public transportation. Indeed, all development in Pakistan has been taking place this way over the last 8 years - to serve the interests of the rich. One of the realities we will have to reckon with once this government is gone is its legacy, that is, the mess we'll have to clean up. And one of the most terrifying aspects of the Musharraf era is that we've lost 8 years to develop real infrastructure, spur industry, put into place basic human development such as education and healthcare, and we've lost ground to the jehadis at the same time.
Now the city is embarking on yet another set of "megacity development projects" - and its taking an $800 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to do so. The projects will mostly focus on the Shahrah-e-Faisal signal-free corridor and various other road projects, and there is only a trivial mention of a bus system and light rail. The problem with this "development" is that it benefits only rich people - those who own cars - and neglects the needs of the vast majority who desperately need public transportation. Indeed, all development in Pakistan has been taking place this way over the last 8 years - to serve the interests of the rich. One of the realities we will have to reckon with once this government is gone is its legacy, that is, the mess we'll have to clean up. And one of the most terrifying aspects of the Musharraf era is that we've lost 8 years to develop real infrastructure, spur industry, put into place basic human development such as education and healthcare, and we've lost ground to the jehadis at the same time.
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