THE historic Mall Road in Lahore is facing a growing civic grievance. Public bus shelters, established to facilitate daily commuters, are increasingly being used as daytime living quarters and improvised lodgings by vagrants, mendicants and the homeless. Commuters waiting for public transit, including women, children and the elderly, face immense inconvenience as waiting benches remain completely monopolised by personal belongings, bedclothes and sleeping individuals during peak operational hours.

Compounding this issue is the alarming deterioration of hygiene around these bus-stands, particularly near iconic heritage and tourist sites such as the Lahore Zoo, Panorama Centre and Anarkali. The emergence of makeshift garbage dumps and open-air public toilets near these bus-stands compromises public health, and severely mars the aesthetic dignity of a corridor frequented by international visitors and local heritage enthusiasts alike.

Furthermore, this unregulated occupation of bus shelters severely exacerbates safety concerns during late hours, creating an intimidating environment for female commuters who must wait in poorly-lit, occupied spaces, and face a heightened risk of harassment. It is imperative that the government swiftly formulate and enforce a comprehensive policy combining active municipal monitoring, dedicated transit security and structured social rehabilitation to restore safety, protect vulnerable commuters and ensure that public spaces remain safe, secure and presentable.

Abdullah Asghar
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2026