WITH reference to the article ‘CDA officials upgraded on pick and choose basis: report’ in Dawn (May 17).

While I convey my appreciations on the clearance of the main roads, I am astonished that a similar operation has never been launched by the Capital Development Authority against those who illegally occupy footpaths in all commercial centres of Islamabad forcing pedestrians, women and children to walk on main roads with speeding traffic.

The CDA has even failed to clear footpaths in the Blue Area, Jinnah Super, Rana Market and Faisal Market. One can hardly walk in Karachi Company, where motorcycle dealers have even occupied the main road blocking free flow of traffic.

The CDA should apply the law equally in removing encroachments from footpaths to facilitate senior citizens, women and children for easy access for walking.

In any civilised society it is the fundamental right of pedestrians to have free footpaths. In Islamabad even cars are parked on footpaths and the police is not bothered unless it is a good PR move.

Therefore my pragmatic suggestion to the CDA Chairman and IGP would be to curb tendency of lower staff to go for targets which provide photo sessions while ignoring issues directly affecting the public such as footpaths.

Vice Admiral (retd) Ahmad Tasnim

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2019