Vandalism in the name of development
I was introduced to this photo taken by Khanpride by Jami Sirhandi.
His plea was to stand up to the ‘development mafia’ and stop this vandalism.
Across Pakistan, rampant and unplanned urbanisation is taking its toll on green spaces and the trees. As it is our forest cover has denuded to alarming proportions; and now we are creating urban wastelands of dubious impact in the name of development.
The image on the right, again shows how trees have vanished and there has been no re-plantation despite the usual lip-service that is paid on these occasions.
Saving trees is not just a romantic notion: it is vital to our future and involves the right of our next generations to survive on this planet.
Stand up and be counted, as they say…
September 13th, 2007
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Blog Babble, Random musings, Globalization, Photo stories, All My Posts, On Pakistan, Environment |
September 13th, 2007 at 4:48 am
This is all that they name as the reqiurement of the growing population. They will have to pay for the destuction of the nature. If they cut off the trees, they should also plant new ones that grow with years and compensate for this. Greenery is very essential but there is no realization for it.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Thank you for posting this, there’s so little awareness otherwise on how development is being used to screw up the environment and us.
PS: Raza Sb, youre sounding like Cowasjee
September 13th, 2007 at 5:46 am
Shez ji - what can I say and not sure if that is a compliment
Pak Spectator: you are right about the need to re-plant the trees and finding practical solutions but why are we so insensitive to the environment, aesthetics and heritage. More and more trees are being cut in all cities and towns of Pakistan - only to be replaced with palm trees imported from abroad and to make Pakistan look like Dubai!
September 13th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
At least in Pakistan there is probably some amount of guilt and thus a need to hide or not own up to this irresponsible act of destruction. In my country, not only do we cut down trees and impose on other natural habitats, but we do it with ease and a near elan! We fill up and level a lake,construct urban monstrosities on that land, and then name the urban complex “Hidden Lake Apartments”! Another instance: we cut down a birch wood forest, level out the land, and construct a large mall there and call it “The Birchwood Commons”! Now what do you make of that!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I am surprised by looking at the pictures. I remember the first time I went to Karachi in the start of 90s and there were green trees everywhere still. But now when I go there I feel there is something missing.
I think along wit economics, the absence of greenery, traffic and pollution are one of the major factors that cause frustration and affect life negatively.
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I personally believe that one of the prime reasons for this kind of insenstivity is beacuse of privatisation and the irresponsibilty of the government(s) to control the private sector. I mean if yout ry to oipen a small educaional institute, they drive you nuts! yet, when you feel like making a new housing society or a shopping mall and if you’re rich enough with all required contacts, you can build ten schemes if you want to! this is total injustice. There was a time when parking at PTV station [lahore] was a very shady place, however, some minister or president had to come and there was a rumor that a bomb has been planted in the woods, that person ordered all the trees to be chpped, now that place looks like a grave yard! I havn’t seen the shady parking, but I can well imagine how beutiful it might have been. The most laughable matter is that thanks to westernization, people prefer spending thousands of rupees on lights to decorate their exterior than for trees! You’d hardly find a single plant INSIDE a house. Due to inflation, lawns now look like farms where they try to grow as many vegetables as possible and who craes for trees………………………………….???