Where can Pakistani young people simply exist?

By Areeba Arshad

The shortage of affordable public spaces is slowly changing how young people view their cities.

“Streets and their sidewalks- the main public spaces of the city-are its most vital organs” _ Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

A simple question, where can young people meet when they have nowhere else to be? can reveal a great deal about a city.

Not some place where you have to spend money, meet a deadline or attend classes.

For millions of young Pakistanis this question is not so straightforward as it should be. Routines of these people are organized around academic institutions, workplaces, and when time and budget permits, occasional restaurants or café runs with friends or family. Yet spaces that allow young people to socialize freely, without the exception of spending money or to fulfil an obligation, can be surprisingly difficult to find.

There is a limited availability of public spaces that are safe, affordable and accessible to everyone. Then the problem is not simply the lack of recreational facilities.

Consider what a typical outing plan looks like for a young adult, someone suggests meeting at a café, a friend worries about the cost, someone has to negotiate transport, or just asking for permission to hangout. What should have been a simple afternoon meetup turns into a whole exercise.

Of course cafés and restaurants can be valuable third places, but still they are commercial establishments. So spending quality time there means buying something. For many students and young adults with limited finances these outings can become an expense rather than something they can enjoy.

Public parks, community centers, walking trails, playgrounds, and open grounds offer alternatives. However, their accessibility, availability, maintenance and location matters considerably. Even if parks do exist they might be inconvenient to reach, or the facilities might not meet the needs of younger people. Security issues, especially regarding the safety of women and children is also brought to attention. That can further limit who can use them.

These activates are not necessarily for people to only indulge in when every responsibility has been fulfilled. They are also an opportunity to build friendships and participate in a community outside formal settings and fancy restaurants, which is important in the aspects of developing independence.

When affordable alternatives are limited, young people lose more than somewhere to spend their afternoons. Their opportunities to socialize become increasingly restricted and dependent on their financial circumstances.

So, even if the public spaces are available, they are not experienced the same way by everyone.

For many women in Pakistan planning outdoor activities can usually means taking other things into consideration: such as the safety of the journey, the risk of harassment and the availability of reliable transport. Families also restrict outdoor activities especially for girls and young women due to legit safety concerns, social expectations or a mix of both.

Safety cannot be treated as an afterthought in urban planning. A local park that exists but feels unsafe to reach is not equally accessible to all.

The same principle also applies to the urban environment. The ability to enjoy a public space does not only depend on the destination itself, but also whether the people can reach that space safely and comfortably. If the location has poorly maintained pedestrian routes, heavy traffic, and the lack of functional transport options can make the journey incredibly difficult and not worthwhile for many.

Urban life often leaves little room for activities that bring genuine happiness in life. Rather majority of younger adults are encouraged to devote most of their time studying, acquiring as many skills as they possibly can, building careers and remaining productive. This causes the leisure activities to become something to purchase, organize and schedule.

But a regular social life does not always require a plan. Sometimes it just means sitting at your front door for hours, walking with friends after a long day, playing games and talking without looking at the clock for hours at time. Those with money, private transports have alternatives that many simply lack.

When affordable public spaces are limited, social interactions can also become increasingly dependent on commercial venues. This does not affect everyone equally.

The result is a question of inclusion: who gets to enjoy the city, and under what conditions?

Addressing the issue is mandatory but it does not simply mean that we need more infrastructure. The first step is to understand that public spaces are a necessity rather than being an option.

Planning must also consider who will actually use these spaces.

But the absence of perfect solutions should not prevent practical improvements.

A city should not be judged by its universities, restaurants and shopping centers. It should be judged based on the life of its ordinary residents, whether they are able to enjoy the same leisure’s without spending loads of money.

The point is not only to develop cities with lavish buildings, but also to make them livable.

So shouldn’t we be asking: where can a young person go to spend a simple afternoon with friends, breathe fresh air and feel that they belong?

A city that cannot adequately answer this question may offer its young people plenty of places to be productive, but too few places to simply be.