Islamabad is beautiful, but Islooites lack civic sense

[Naveed Yaseen]

Thursday, October 01, 2009
Saadia Khalid

Islamabad

Residents of the capital immensely lack civic sense, as littering, broken lights, damaged medians and plucked flowers speak volumes about their indifference towards their responsibilities.

Whether it is a park or a street, a government building or a road, lack of civic sense prevails everywhere, as people damage public properties without any reason, hence costing dearly to the relevant authorities and damaging the beauty of the city.

The city dwellers, though living in posh sectors and owning luxurious shiny vehicles, do not pay heed to their responsibilities as citizens, and often engage in acts that ruin the splendour of the metropolis.

Talking to ‘The News’, the city residents termed littering and vandalism as a character defect and urged the authorities to check this practice by imposing heavy fines on people involved in such activities.

“People should act responsibly and contribute towards the beautification of the city rather than damaging it,” said Salma Murtaza, a housewife. “It is the residents’ attitude problem due to which they feel no qualms in damaging public property or indulging in acts that undermine its beauty.” She said people living here are not illiterate and do have a fair idea of their responsibilities. “Lack of civic sense is mostly observed in people considered educated and having a respectable status in society,” she said.

Jamila Ahsan, a teacher, said there is a need to educate children and youngsters in this regard, so that they recognise their responsibilities from an early age.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=200977