Footpaths on Shahrah-e-Resham: How Long Will the People of Mansehra Have to Wait?

By: A Concerned Citizen
Shahrah-e-Resham is one of the most important roads in Mansehra. Thousands of people use this busy route every day. Some travel to work, others head to educational institutions, while many visit markets and commercial areas to carry out their daily activities. However, the lack of proper footpaths along this major road remains a serious public issue that has been overlooked for far too long.
The question is simple: Don't the citizens of Mansehra have the right to walk safely? Isn't it the responsibility of the relevant authorities to provide safe passage for children, women, elderly people and other pedestrians?
Footpaths are not a luxury or an unnecessary addition to a city's infrastructure. They are an essential public facility. In well-planned cities, pedestrian safety is considered an important part of road development. Unfortunately, the situation on Shahrah-e-Resham is quite different. Pedestrians are often forced to walk alongside moving traffic, facing daily difficulties and potential safety risks.
The situation is particularly concerning for schoolchildren, girls, working women and elderly citizens. No parent wants their children to walk on a busy road simply because there is no safe pedestrian pathway available.
This is not an issue concerning one individual, one political party or a particular section of society. It is a shared concern of the entire city. That is why this demand needs public support and a collective voice. The citizens of Mansehra should raise this issue peacefully and constructively so that the authorities recognize its importance.
I would like to put forward a simple suggestion: why not invite Sardar Yousaf Sahib and Captain Safdar Sahib to join us for a walk on any weekend, from Township to Madni Mosque? Local residents, community representatives and concerned citizens should also participate.
Instead of discussing the issue inside an office, our elected representatives should walk along this route themselves and witness the difficulties faced by ordinary pedestrians.
We want our representatives to see firsthand how urgently footpaths are needed on Shahrah-e-Resham. If, after walking this route, they believe that footpaths are unnecessary, at least the public will have had an opportunity to present its concerns directly. However, if they recognize the need, practical steps should follow.
Allah Almighty has blessed our elected representatives with respect, authority and an opportunity to serve the people. The best use of that authority is to provide basic facilities and improve the daily lives of citizens. Public service should not remain limited to speeches, announcements and ceremonies; it should be reflected in practical improvements that people can experience.
We also appeal to the district administration, the Highways Department, the National Highway Authority and all other relevant institutions to develop a proper plan for constructing footpaths along Shahrah-e-Resham, from Township to the General Bus Stand.
The plan should take into account pedestrian safety, uninterrupted walking spaces, the prevention of encroachments and the long-term maintenance of footpaths.
The citizens of Mansehra should also support this legitimate demand and raise their voices collectively. Access to basic urban facilities is a public necessity, not a personal favour.
This demand is not about personal interests. It is about the safety of our children, the protection of women and elderly citizens, and the future of Mansehra.
Finally, one question remains: Will we continue dreaming of footpaths on Shahrah-e-Resham, or will this basic public need finally become a reality?
The people need practical action, not just promises. They need safe footpaths, not merely announcements. Mansehra deserves a road where pedestrians, just like motorists, have a safe and proper place to travel.