"Cars and Economy" by:Shoaib Kiani

“We made it easier for one to own a car” was the statement of farmer president of Pakistan. He was proud about his work for the economy. According to him it was a great job and it is a symbol of development. He was convincing the TV anchor that he upgraded the living standard. I was feeling so good about his work until my teacher taught couple of days before, that it creates traffic problem if everyone in the economy drives his own car. I could not understand “how?” but i found that it is a reality that this up gradation creates not only traffic problems but it slows down the economic activities.

First of all I admit that auto mobile industry is contributing a big part in production of various industrial countries across the globe. Japan is the best example. One can easily understand the importance of Car industry in modern era. It generates Revenues and Foreign exchange reserves. It also enhances production and Exports, provides Jobs to unemployed population. Somehow it can become a stair for a developing country like Pakistan to go up. Being a student of economic sciences I cannot avoid the importance of Car production.

But today I will try to show you the picture from a different angle. Some years before, as I have quoted from President’s interview it was a time of car revolution. Car leasing made it so easy for a middle class household to have a car. It caused traffic jams. You can analyze yourself how much traffic jam increased in past eight years in your city. The government of Pakistan found a solution, making new and widening old roads. If you look at Islamabad city from Google map you will be wonder to see that roads are more than houses and wider then a sectors.

Another Issue that rises with car is that it slows down the daily economic activities. A truck of vegetables or dairy Items must should b in the market otherwise farmer and trader both will bear a loss. Uncountable problems are caused by traffic jams, as everyone knows. Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to (and has to be) at work place on time to start an activity. In car revolution it is not possible. Sometimes being late for just an hour causes loss for billions of Rupees. You can easily imagine how traffic jam reduces the speed of economy.

We have blame on the citizens that they do not follow traffic ethics, that’s why we are facing traffic jams. But actually it is because of extra cars on the road.  We are already facing Oil and Gas shortfall. It is not in our interest to increase the demand of gasoline.  My objective is to highlight the losses to the economy due to slow transportation.

 A survey report says that “every thousand individuals in Pakistan have nine to eleven cars” it is not a large ratio but still big traffic jams are being reported every day in every corner of Pakistan. Just imagine what will happen if this ratio doubles. How much roads we will construct. Will we reduce traffic jams? I think never.

This problem is not only in Pakistan. It is worldwide problem; even developing world is facing traffic jams. Most of the developed countries like US, UK, Japan etc. have planned to convert private transport into public. It is the best solution for the problem. It reduces the density of traffic. Fewer vehicles come on the road.

Unfortunately we have not yet found any reasonable solution for traffic problems. Cities with large population like Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad etc. are facing traffic jams each moment. People prefer to travel in own cars instead of travelling through public modes. The reason is expensive, unsafe, unscheduled, uncomfortable public transportation. You can check out the public buses, Trains and Aircraft service in any city of Pakistan.

Now the question is "why will someone leave the car and start traveling in bus?" To answer this question we have to analyze “why people use car?” answer is simple “to travel safely, comfortably and in time”. That’s the point if we provide them a safe, comfortable, well standard, on time and cheaper alternate they will definitely leave the car. And economy will run faster.

Thick and slow traffic is never a symbol of growth. Actual growth means when maximum Goods and Passengers are transported through thin and faster traffic. Faster transport means faster growth.

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Shoaib Kiani

Email: xs2shebi@gmail.com

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