A newspaper gleefully exhibits a photo of the “replica of a cactus plant” installed along GT road in order to “beautify” the city. Astounding, one would think.
Note the words “cactus plant” and “beautify”. A Google search on cactus plant yielded the following results: “Cacti are Ugly......and besides they sting!!” Botanists worldwide consider this specie essentially a desert plant.
But what the hell is it doing in Peshawar? During the current monsoon planting season, the cactus specie is being zealously planted all over the city by PDA instead of the usual, large indigenous trees as has been the norm for decades. We certainly have travelled a long way towards desertification of the “city of majestic gardens”.
Peshawar is of course being “beautified” by our erstwhile town planners and administrators. In addition to installing mammoth replicas of cactus plants, we’re seeing fighter jets, rockets and missiles and whatnot, on main thoroughfares. Hurtling towards desertification, the environmentalists and meteorologists have long predicted unprecedented heatwaves followed by cloud bursts – torrential rains and floods are just a reminder.
PTI chairman Imran Khan inaugurates campaign to plant one billion trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Note the words “cactus plant” and “beautify”
Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to some experts, sit atop an ecological volcano waiting to explode. Climate change is here and is hitting us hard already. The cactus replica on GT road intersection is perhaps a reminder of the ominous future. No other way to explain this hare-brained idea!
An IUCN expert once commented: “Trees are the most convenient obstacles for city planners and administrators to get rid of. Any expansion or development does not proceed without denuding a few dozen or even hundreds of trees in the process”.
Cactus on GT road
While in the developed world trees are symbols of heritage and veneration, visit any “civilized” nation and notice the difference in their treatment of natural heritage. We expected better sense from the PTI government, but it’s business-as-usual for PDA and C&W with their hyperactive bulldozers and cranes removing all vestiges of old trees and replacing them with tacky fountains or some concrete monstrosity.
The city has ‘Dubai syndrome’, lacks imagination and has no idea how to conserve old trees and plant huge indigenous shady trees. As an environmentalist, I have been long advocating regular sensitization programs for C&W and PDA and other line departments assigned with urban development.
Bala Hisar Fort, Peshawar
During the last decades, our city administrators developed an obsession with imported palm and date trees (Dubai again!) normally suitable for arid climates. Having thrown away extravagant amount of tax payers’ money, the surviving dead stumps along major roads remind us of this pointless enterprise.
Perhaps apathy regarding environmental outcomes of mindless development exists in all major metropolitan cities. But unlike Peshawar and Karachi, Lahore has a vibrant civil society. Lahore Bachao Tehrik is an exception, led by the invincible Imrana Tiwana and her formidable team of professionals, taking on the bureaucracy and winning many environmental battles citing violation of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) through proactive legal steps. This example needs to be emulated in other cities as well.
Yadgar Chowk's evolution
The cactus replica on GT road is a reminder of the ominous future
Dr Asadullah, Director, Center of Plant Biodiversity and Botanical garden in Azakhel, Nowshera says, “For centuries indigenous species like Neem, Barh (Indian Banyan), Peepal (Bodhi tree), Chinaar(Maple), Jaaman, Mango and Kachnaar (camel foots tree), Sheeshum (Indian rose wood), bakiyan (china berry), bair (berry), Sareek (silk tree), berries (Chinese apple), Keekar, Palosa, Amaltaas and so many others existed predating the Mughal, Durrani and British periods.”
“These contributed to a unique biodiversity of colour, fragrance, shade, nesting and fruit for birds, squirrels and other species; above all in maintaining a temperate climate. No wonder large trees are considered lungs of the earth and even compared to nature’s air conditioner,” he adds.
Jahaz Chowk Hayatabad
Peshawar Development Authority
Our modern city managers are completely oblivious of this fact, and are now opting for water (and labour) intensive fine grass and exotic plants, and even cacti species, for decorative purposes (Dubai certainly!) They do not serve the purpose of reducing the “urban heat island effect” of populous cities like Peshawar with exploding population and smoke emitting vehicles. The solution is huge shady trees (PTI’s billion tree tsunami remains confined to the rural areas and has yet to hit Peshawar!)
Meanwhile, the hapless citizens of Peshawar have to bear the fact that a historic city of gardens and flowers is now turning into a cultural and ecological desert. Cactus plant certainly serves as a suitable metaphor of sorts for Peshawar – a cactus city in all respects – without shade, colour and fragrance.
“Peshawar Bachao Tehrik” anyone?
The writer is the founding member of Sarhad Conservation Network. He can be reached at adilzareef@yahoo.com
