WHEN we talk about the rights of citizens, anything that facilitates, or is meant to facilitate the citizens, falls in this domain. For instance, walking safely on the roads and streets is the basic right of any citizen, but the citizens of Lahore have been deprived of this very basic right. All the pavements happen tobein a dilapidated condition.

Walking on the streets of Lahore can be a daunting experience. Sidewalks havebeentakenoverbyvendorsand motorcycles, or have been turned into parking lots, forcing pedestrians to walk on slippery and dangerous roads.

Moreover, there are few zebra crossings left, if any.

This has put the lives of pedestrians in peril as can be seen in the rising number of road accidents. Unfortunately, victims are generally blamed whenever something goes wrong on the roads, with the offenders calling them ignorant and incautious on the roads.

The city authorities should take action and prioritise pedestrian safety. They need proper sidewalks, zebra crossings, and more effective enforcement of traffic rules. Pedestrian rights must be given the same importance as those of motorists.

Iman Waheed Lahore