KARACHI, Oct 14 (APP):Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Director General Zain-ul-Abideen Ansari chaired a meeting with a World Bank delegation at Civic Centre to discuss measures for promoting safe mobility for women and girls and improving access to public spaces under the Karachi Mobility Project (Yellow Line BRT).
The meeting reviewed the World Bank’s ongoing assessment of initiatives aimed at creating a safer, more accessible and inclusive urban environment in Karachi.
The meeting was attended by KDA’s Chief Engineer, Director Land Management, and Director Planning and Urban Design, along with representatives of the World Bank and the Karachi Mobility Project.
The World Bank delegation included Transport Specialist Bilal Paracha and consultants Yousuf Munir, Hibah Sheikh, Fatima Ehsan and Rija Haider. Hira Nazir, Gender Specialist for the Karachi Mobility Project (Yellow Line BRT), and Ghufran Khan, Assistant Director of the project, also attended.
The participants discussed KDA’s ongoing initiatives and explored ways to strengthen the authority’s role in improving urban safety and accessibility, particularly for women and girls.
Key issues included the beautification and effective utilisation of spaces beneath bridges, development and maintenance of pedestrian pathways, improvement of traffic signals through KDA’s Traffic Engineering Bureau, removal of encroachments obstructing pedestrian movement, and installation of streetlights in development projects.
The participants stressed the need to prioritise public safety, convenience and ease of movement for all citizens, particularly women and girls, in the planning and execution of urban development projects.
They also called for identifying poorly lit areas and locations where pedestrians face difficulties or feel unsafe, followed by improved lighting and the provision of essential facilities to make public spaces safer and more accessible.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on effective coordination and cooperation among the relevant institutions to strengthen practical measures for safe, inclusive and improved urban mobility across Karachi.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
