IN Peshawar, the University Town was once considered a posh, green and quiet residential area. But nowadays the University Town looks like being under siege because of commercial encroachments.

Owing to lack of commercial and office areas in Peshawar, the houses in the University Town have been converted into schools, restaurants, guest houses, government offices, non-profit offices, as well as international and multinational offices.

These commercial and office businesses attract high traffic, pollution and noise. Heavy use has damaged roads, power lines and the drainage system and strained the supply of water. Some offices related to the UN, the US or Iranian government have even closed off road access.

These commercial businesses have also given us many benefits. I enjoy dinners and takeaway food, while my guests can stay in the nearby guest houses. My grandchildren study in the nearby nursery, while my cousin works in a multinational company office located near my home. Similarly, thousands of others also benefit from these commercial businesses utilising their services.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has issued notices to all the commercial businesses, but not to the international organisations, to close down and move their business away from the University Town or else their owners will be arrested.

It is an unwise decision, which the previous government had also tried to implement but failed. The KP government should instead allow the commercial businesses to operate but on condition they pay tax to the municipality.

Similarly, commercial businesses should be held responsible for cleanliness and repair of roads and other infrastructure.

No business should be allowed to block any roads

Zeeshan Khan
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

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