By Zaheer Haider Jafri
Lahore is the heart of Pakistan. A city of history, culture, knowledge, and tradition. From the Mughal gardens to the Sikh era forts, from the scholarly institutions of the subcontinent to its vibrant bazaars, Lahore has always stood with a unique identity. Yet, in recent decades, this jewel has been losing its shine. Overpopulation, traffic chaos, pollution, uncontrolled construction, poor waste management, and inadequate urban facilities have turned Lahore into a city drowning in its own problems.
It was in this backdrop that Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced: “We will turn Lahore into Japan.” The statement immediately caught public attention. For some, it sparked hope; for others, it sounded like another political slogan. The crucial question remains: can this dream become a reality, or will it vanish into the long list of unfulfilled promises?
To answer that, one must first understand why Japan is admired as a model of development. Japan did not become a global power by chance. It invested in technology, ensured discipline in public life, upheld the rule of law, built world class health and education systems, and created efficient transport networks. Equally important, the Japanese cultivated civic responsibility. Cleanliness, punctuality, and collective order became social values. Today, Japanese cities stand out for their near absence of pollution, advanced facilities, and organized way of life.
The next question, then, is: how can Lahore move in that direction? Will buying modern buses, electric trains, and cleaning machines alone make Lahore “the Japan of South Asia”? Or does it require a long-term vision, consistent planning, and above all, the active involvement of its citizens?
According to the Chief Minister, Lahore will soon see new electric trains and state of-the art buses. This indeed is encouraging, as Lahore’s traffic problem has reached a breaking point. Every day, millions of motorcycles and thousands of cars flood its roads. The result: endless traffic jams and a sharp rise in pollution levels. Electric trains and modern buses could help ease the city’s burden, provided they are implemented wisely.
But here lies another concern. In the past, billions were spent on the Metro Bus and the Orange Line projects. These gave the public some relief, but also created fresh issues. The Orange Line was criticized for damaging Lahore’s heritage sites, while its operational costs and subsidies turned into heavy burdens for the government. Will this new wave of projects learn from past mistakes, or are we heading into the same cycle again?
The identity of Lahore has always been its greenery and gardens. Today, however, it is becoming a city of smoke, concrete, and garbage. The Chief Minister’s announcement about advanced waste-collection vehicles sounds positive, but cleaning the streets is not enough. The real challenge is preventing waste from piling up in the first place. Recycling, waste segregation, and public awareness must become part of the system.
The Japanese example is instructive here. In Japan, households and offices themselves separate waste into categories plastic, paper, glass, and organic. Municipal authorities only collect what has already been sorted. If Lahore truly wants to adopt Japan’s model, it cannot rely solely on machines; it must transform social behavior as well.
Environmental degradation is another pressing issue. Lahore’s air quality is among the most hazardous in the world. Every winter, smog blankets the city, choking its residents and filling hospitals with patients suffering from respiratory diseases. Maryam Nawaz has pledged measures to tackle pollution, but the people wait for visible action. Will industrial emissions finally be regulated? Will tree plantation campaigns go beyond speeches and photo opportunities to real, large scale results?
Pakistan’s politics has a long history of ambitious slogans. Once it was promised that the country would become an “Asian Tiger.” At other times, leaders pledged to make Pakistan a global economic superpower. These slogans generated excitement but rarely translated into lasting reforms. To avoid repeating history, the vision of making Lahore “like Japan” must rest on continuity, seriousness, and transparency.
It is also crucial to note that governments alone cannot achieve such transformations. Public behavior must change too. Discipline, time management, respect for law, civic responsibility, and tax compliance are foundations of development. If Lahoris truly wish to see their city prosper, they must play their part. Japan’s success did not come only from government projects but also from the collective character of its people their hard work, honesty, and sense of order. Lahore will require the same spirit if it is to progress.
The Chief Minister’s vision should therefore be seen as more than just political rhetoric. It reflects an aspiration to make Lahore a modern, clean, and progressive city. Yet between dream and reality lies a long and demanding journey. Infrastructure projects are important, but equally essential are reforms in governance, enforcement of laws, and civic education.
Ultimately, Lahore can only become “a Japan” if its people rise above mere hope and take responsibility alongside the state. Every citizen must see themselves as a stakeholder in the city’s future whether by keeping their streets clean, planting a tree, or obeying traffic rules. Only with such collective resolve can the city reclaim its lost glory and set a model for the rest of Pakistan.
Lahore has the potential. The dream is worth pursuing. But it will only turn into reality if both government and citizens walk the path together with patience, discipline, and determination.
