Daily Times

One of the best ways to check which countries are the cleanest in the world is by looking into the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), a project developed by Yale University and Columbia University. The EPI takes into account a number factors directly associated with the environment such as air pollution and water sanitation and combines them to come up with a solid number to mark the environmental state in countries. Fifty percent of the variables pertain to environmental health while the other half involves ecosystem vitality. By that standard, according to international surveys, the list of countries that are considered to be the cleanest in the world include Iceland, Canada, Finland, Brunei, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand. On the contrary, most of the countries and cities in South Asia especially in India and Pakistan are among the dirtiest, not only because of poor EPI ratings but on numerous other counts too. While better economy, good education, geography, temperate weather, less population per square kilometer, culture, governance, controlled industrialisation versus agro farming, forests and good scientific systems in place to control excessive emission of poisonous gases and water pollution, all contribute in making the environment cleaner. However, a country that may not have been blessed with every desirable factor can still manage to look better and cleaner. And that is where the role of every citizen comes into play, besides governmental efforts.

It is said that if you want to judge a nation’s standard of civilized behavior, see its traffic on the road

It is said that if you want to judge a nation’s standard of civilized behavior, see its traffic on the road. In the same context, one foreigner being skeptical of Pakistan’s nuclear status once sarcastically remarked, “You people can’t even control your road traffic; how on earth can you control your missiles and nuclear weapons”. At present, most cities and towns in our beloved country Pakistan are in an unenviable state. Our travel from Lahore to Abbottabad or Murree in late 70s on the only available Grand Trunk Road despite being marked with many bumps and potholes was never boring or frustrating as we had much cleaner air, eye pleasing landscapes, less traffic density due to proportionate population, no bottle necks, no encroachments astride the road and above all far nicer and politer people to travel with. However, as of now, the comparison of travel on the same route in much better personal or public transport even on better roads is quite depressing and frustrating due to a host of reasons. Now Pakistan has greatly improved road infrastructure throughout the country compared with the past 40 years; nevertheless, our inter and intra city road traffic is a mess, giving the impression of a most disorganized state and a mostly illiterate and ill-tempered population. Who is to blame? Unplanned over population, weak education system, lack of required grooming at home and in the education institutions, inability to quantify the bearable road traffic density, thoughtless import and production of cars, inefficient traffic police, corrupt licensing system, disregard for most desired traffic rules, inappropriate mix of slow and fast moving traffic, unfit vehicles allowed to ply on the roads including animal transport, undue speed breakers, service lanes and footpaths being used as parking and vendors’ markets, swarms of beggars on roads and in parking spaces, continued construction of commercial buildings with insufficient parking spaces, useless and ugly police check points with hazardous barriers, encroachments on the roads, fearless under aged or intoxicated drivers and mostly dysfunctional traffic signals are just a few to quote. But the most deplorable reason remains the people’s own bad road sense and poor behaviour as they get away with all claptrap displayed on the roads by bribing a petty sum if they are caught. As a matter of fact, our poor traffic system is not only causing very tragic road accidents resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people every month and resulting in hypertension; but also causing extra emission of poisonous gasses and heat, wastage of fuel and time, which makes it the blackest scar on the face of our society and country. The uncontrolled price hike, ultra high gas and electricity bills and all national institutions displaying lackluster attitude as if they are on a strike seem part of a sinister plan to let down the government, which has probably made it a little difficult for them to continue their old practices. Consequently, all the government departments are deliberately turning a blind eye to this mayhem so that it can boomerang with a severe political backlash for the incumbent government, that may help their old masters come back to power.

Our fast-drying are also a cause for concern. Villages that were once surrounded by orchards and green fields are fast turning into brick and concrete eyesores. More and more agricultural land is being converted into private housing societies without any mega town planning, which is further aggravating our scarce water resources and creating a potential food crises. All this is quite obviously happening with due connivance of the concerned departments and bureaucracy. Fear of law is missing due to a host of reasons, thus we are plunging deeper and deeper. The earlier the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government wakes up to this reality, the better for the country and for its own survival.

Sheikh Saadi said, “Whatever makes an impression on the heart seems lovely in the eye.”Doesn’t it work both ways when it comes to our personal looks, homes, places of work, towns and cities? While we expect our government to make better infrastructure, better transport means, it becomes our shared responsibility to use it with due care and with better mannerisms. Keeping our country clean and exhibiting fine behavior as a member of society is part and parcel of our religious teachings but one hardly ever hears this from religious teachers or even teachers in education institutions. However, present government riding on the given slogan of bringing change and provision of justice, may like to focus on the above mentioned problems badly impacting the image of our country and making it look contradictory to its own name.

The writer is a retired Army officer who is experienced in international relations, defence and warfare studies

Published in Daily Times, February 13^th 2019.