January 08, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 17, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 7: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has included Pakistan in a set of field studies which will be carried out in four Asian countries to help develop blueprints for sustainable urban transport system in the region.

It is most likely that the bank will include cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad where traffic situation is worsening day by day, affecting the life of the urban population, informed sources told Dawn.

Among the biggest issues facing the cities are poor traffic management, unregulated operation of private buses, unplanned road networks, weak coordination, and inefficient institutional frameworks.

Backed by the bank’s technical assistance grant of $1 million, the studies will identify effective investment programmes to support efficient transport systems and innovative financing options that can meet future needs. The study is due for completion around April 2008, with the results to be disseminated through publications, country workshops and seminars.

The studies would be carried out by a team of international experts, which will also conduct extensive consultations with national and municipal governments, local stakeholders and other donors.

It will emphasize the social, environmental, and economic impacts of urban transport. An evaluation framework for sustainable urban transport will be developed, drawing on the findings of the review and incorporating enhancements required to ensure more effective and efficient transport infrastructure and service delivery and operations in the future, according to sources.

China, Nepal and Sri Lanka are other countries which have been included in the project being conducted against the background of a region whose cities are increasingly under strain from the fast pace of urbanization.

While a large portion of the region’s urban population relies heavily on public transport for its daily activities, transport systems in most cities are not yet adequately developed and investments have been limited and piecemeal.

Meanwhile, increases in the number and use of vehicles surpass the available road space, adding to congestion, poor road discipline, and air pollution. The inefficient transport systems in the region has badly affected urban economic growth, reduced incomes and decreased urban poverty.

Most urban transport systems around Asia do not take the poor into account. This is actually worsening the situation for many of the region’s urban poor, who have to travel longer distances on clogged roads. As a result, they find it even harder to break out of the cycle of poverty and are exposed to dangers on the road and air pollution, reveals the project document.

Several international and bilateral institutions and donor countries are actively involved in improving urban transport infrastructure and services in the region. The studies and activities undertaken by these are expected to promote a good grasp of best practices, issues, and constraints regarding urban transport.