AS I was scrolling through my newsfeed, I was struck by the latest announcement from the Islamabad administration; ‘Service at Your Doorstep’. For the first time in the country, residents can have their vehicle and property registration done right at their doorstep.

This sounds like a fantastic initiative, but as I dwelled deeper, I was troubled by the misplaced priorities of the adminis- tration. One of the most concerning issues that the residents of Islamabad face is the dire state of their drinking water sources.

According to a report by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), a staggering 68 per cent of the water sources in Islamabad are unfit for drinking purposes, posing a signi-ficant risk to the health and wellbeing of the citizens.

Adding to the woes of the citizens is the inadequate public transport system, with irregular and poorly maintained vehicles, and limited routes. The lack of reliable public transport has made commuting an arduous task, with many people forced to spend almost half of their salaries on transportation.

The traffic congestion, coupled with the poorly maintained roads, have made it a daunting task to navigate the city, causing daily frustration for many. The streets are rife with waste management issues, with piles of dung and garbage visible at every turn. In short, there are several administrative issues in Islamabad that require attention, and given these issues, ‘service at your doorstep’ might be a good idea, but not a great one. It is time we prioritised the basic needs of our citizens over fancy initiatives that only benefit a select few.

Rafia Ahmad
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2023