Ruining Pakistan's Capital Islamabad

The past 5 years have seen massive unsustainable 'development' in Islamabad. This has been spearheaded by its municipality, with the backing of the bureaucracy and military high-ups. No public input is sought or accepted. The character of the city has changed through ill-thought-out projects that have ruined the environment of the city and made it unmanageable.

Pakistan generally lacks the organizational and management skills to handle large cities and projects effectively, but one continues to see the proliferation of mega-projects up and down the country. From such adventures, various interest groups siphon off funds leaving the cities poorer for everyone, and more so for the majority who are financially poor.

The idea that "small is beautiful" is alien to city planners, top government functionaries and the military.

The video, from the Dawn News channel's program "The Big Digit", highlights some of the disasters specific to Islamabad but with relevance to most projects, old and new, in Pakistan and developing countries.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Isa Daudpota
• Sustainable Development
• Planning
• participation
• Public
• Transport System
• Roads
• Parks
• Water
• Sewage

[greensufi]

Brilliant so nice to have Schumacher's ideas on "Development" introduced to our westernized elite!

Well done Sir & lovely Qalandari Topi mashaAllah!

salam alaykum

[daudpota]

I am glad you noticed the inspiration: Schumacher!

[AadamInsaan]

Salam`Alaiquum

I do think it is rather important that we are concerned obout how our cities are `devolping´, and specifically the capital.

Dr. Daudpota do accept my appreciation

for the effort You are enganged in concerning the `Èsthetique´ d´city.

Recently I visited Paris, and it was obvious that there had been a master-plan engaged regarding the infrastructure of the city, the fingerprints of Hausmann are still there.

[bhishti]

excellent young man. heard it thrice

[meedan1]

Don´t ruin my cityyyy :(

[Drzhivago11]

Brilliant!

[greensufi]

Hazrat head over to my blogsite [click on name to profile page] where you can read some of Schumacher sahib's writings!

so needless to say we have been very impressed to see someone talking about such important but ignored matters at last on TV!

Small is Beautiful I think to be one of the greatest books of the modern age...

[tango48]

well done isa

wonder how many who matter heard this and tossed their freshly haired-in head's and said ha?

[aashee]

very sad indeed...!!