Report on Sustainable Urban Mobility
Solutions for Pakistan
Aligned with UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
By: Fahad Shah and Abdullah Butt
Date: 19/12/2024
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Research on the Problem
- Proposed Sustainable Solution
- Technical Demonstration
- Real-World Impact
- Conclusion and Recommendation
- References
1. Introduction
Pakistan's urban areas are growing rapidly, but this growth has led to major transportation problems. Cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad face:
- Severe traffic congestion
- Increasing carbon emissions
- Health issue caused by air pollution
To address these challenges, sustainable urban mobility solutions are required. These solutions focus on providing efficient and eco-friendly transportation systems.
This report explores innovative ways to align Pakistan's urban mobility with UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which emphasizes building greener, safer, and livable cities.
2. Research on the Problem
Urban transportation in Pakistan relies heavily on private vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles.
This dependency creates significant issues:
- Traffic congestion
- Peak hour traffic in cities like Lahore and Karachi wastes time and fuel.
- Air Pollution
- Vehicles contribute to 43% of urban air pollution.
- High levels of CO₂ and other harmful gases impact human health.
- Economic Loss
- Traffic jams cause PKR 100 billion in annual losses in Lahore alone.
Key Statics:
- "43% of urban air pollution comes from vehicles."
- "Lahore loses PKR 100 billion annually due to traffic congestion."
3. Proposed Sustainable Solutions
To solve these issues, we need sustainable and practical solutions. Here are four solutions that can transform urban mobility in Pakistan:
- Electric Public Transport
- Replace fuel-based buses with electric buses to reduce emissions and save fuel costs.
- Example: Shenzhen, China, replaced its diesel buses with 16,000 electric buses.
- Safe Cycling Infrastructure
- Build separate cycling lanes for short trips.
- Encourages people to cycle instead of using cars for small distances.
- Ride-Sharing and Carpooling
- Promote apps like Careem and Bykea to encourage ride-sharing.
- This reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
- Electric Vechiles (EVs)
- Introduce electric rickshaws, bikes, and cars.
- EVs are efficient and produce zero emissions.
4. Technical Demonstration
Let's consider the impact of electric buses as a solution for Lahore:
- Introducing 100 Electric Buses will:
- Replace 50 cars per bus.
- Reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Impact Calculation:
- Annual CO₂ Emissions Reduced: 20,000 tons
- Fuel Savings: Thousands of liters annually.
5. Real World Impact
Implementing these solutions will transform Pakistan's urban mobility and align with SDG 11 goals.
Benefits:
- Reduced Traffic Congestion
- Fewer vehicles mean faster travel times.
- Lower Pollution
- Clean buses and EVs improve air quality.
- Improved Health
- Reduced air pollution decreases respiratory diseases.
- Economic Efficiency
- Saves fuel costs and reduces traffic-related losses.
International Example:
-
Bogotá, Colombia: Introduced a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which now moves 2 million people daily efficiently and sustainably.
6. Conclusion and Recommendation
To solve Pakistan's urban mobility crisis, we need eco-friendly and sustainable solutions. Electric buses, cycling lanes, and ride-sharing can significantly reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
Recommendation:
- Introduce electric public transport in major cities.
- Develop safe cycling infrastructure to promote biking.
- Encourage carpooling and ride-sharing apps.
- Support the adoption of electric vehicles nationwide.
As future mechanical engineers, it is our responsibility to design and promote technologies that make urban transportation cleaner, safer, and more efficient.