20 June 2006
WWF – Pakistan hails the announcement of Intra-city Train Plan in Lahore

LAHORE – World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF – Pakistan) hails the decision of the District Nazim, Mian Amir Mehmood, of proposing a commuter train from Shahdra to Raiwaind. WWF – Pakistan considers this a step towards reducing the traffic load on the roads and controlling hazardous vehicular emissions that is polluting the environment at an accelerating rate.

WWF – Pakistan hopes that the proposed Intra-city Train Plan will not only control the air pollution caused by the millions of vehicles plying in the city but it will also bring an end to the indiscriminate cutting of the trees that is being carried out in various parts of the city for widening of roads, especially on both sides of the canal, to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles on the road. WWF – Pakistan has also been stressing on the need to evolve a proper traffic system that will counter all traffic related problems as cutting of the trees as widening of the roads is not a viable solution.

In the last few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of vehicles in Lahore that has caused numerous traffic problems such as traffic jams, lack of parking space, air pollution etc. Many a times, it has been observed that during the rush hours there are more cars on the road than people which cause traffic jams. The smoke emitting vehicles are not only causing air pollution but also causing global warming, consequently damaging the ozone layer.

All over the world, the concept of public transport has gained popularity as it not only reduces the traffic load on roads but also helps in controlling the air and noise pollution. It is high time that Pakistan also advocates and adopts the environment friendly traffic system to save the environment and resolve traffic problems.

For further information:
Amjad Aslam
WWF – Pakistan,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429
Fax: 042 5862358
e-mail: aaslam@wwf.org.pk