HAVING spent a few days in Istanbul recently, I got a chance to see their impressive transportation system which ensures the movement of the city’s 14-million inhabitants from one place to another. It is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosphorus -- one of the world’s busiest waterways -- in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea.

Istanbul as of last year was the world’s fifth most visited tourist destination with 11 million plus visitors in 2012.

Geographically, Istanbul is situated on seven hills and because of its topography its roads are laid out in the form of steps which makes it even more challenging to establish a mass transit system for the city’s residents and ever-increasing number of tourists.

To address the challenge, Istanbul’s municipal authorities have established a tram system which runs across the city’s main roads and streets. No matter how narrow the road, there is always room for tram. The same road is also used by other vehicular traffic when a tram is not around, thus ensuring the most efficient use of the city’s resources.

Instead of launching more projects like ‘Metro Bus’ which require monthly subsidy from the government and more budget to manage administrative expenses, the government should consider launching a tram system in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Peshawar.

It would help millions of residents to move from one place to another without having to take out their cars or rely upon the expensive and inefficient private transport buses. Besides, it will substantially ease rush hours as well.

ALI SALMAN Islamabad