By Fakhar-e-Alam PESHAWAR, Jun 23 (APP):As temperatures soar across Peshawar, 28-year-old Ehtisham Khan has found himself at the center of a growing crowd with stretched hands for his gur juice seeking relief of sweltering heat. Standing behind his sugarcane juice cart in the bustling Hashtnagri bazaar, he works tirelessly from morning until sunset, serving thirsty customers in the walled city carrying a documented history of nearly 3,000 years. For motivated …
Glass of relief in thirsty city: Peshawar’s urban growth challenges through vendor’s story
By Fakhar-e-Alam
PESHAWAR, Jun 23 (APP):As temperatures soar across Peshawar, 28-year-old Ehtisham Khan has found himself at the center of a growing crowd with stretched hands for his gur juice seeking relief of sweltering heat.
Standing behind his sugarcane juice cart in the bustling Hashtnagri bazaar, he works tirelessly from morning until sunset, serving thirsty customers in the walled city carrying a documented history of nearly 3,000 years.
For motivated Ehtisham, the summer rush is more than a seasonal business boom rather it is a lifeline for his family in Peshawar where demands of the organic juices increased.
Surrounded by customers waiting for freshly prepared sugarcane juice, he pours glass after glass, selling small servings for Rs 50 and large ones for Rs 100.
The steady stream of buyers including men and women besides elderly citizens reflects both the intensity of the weather and the increasing demand for affordable, natural beverages for better health.
“I completed my graduation and applied for several government and private sector jobs,” Ehtisham told APP. “But because of tough competition and lack of professional experience, I could not secure a suitable employment. Eventually, I decided to start this small business to support my poor father and help meet household expenses.”
Unlike many enterprises that require substantial capital, the sugarcane juice business offered a practical alternative for youth.
Ehtisham credits his family’s foresight in storing sugarcane harvested from Charsadda last year for helping him maximize earnings during the current heatwave that kept many to remain in door.
“People are buying the gur juice like hot cakes,” he said with a smile, while preparing another round of glasses for waiting customers.
Among the customers gathered around the cart was Faraz Khan and Riazul Haq, whom believe natural drinks are becoming increasingly attractive for residents struggling with rising living costs and deteriorating public services.
“People prefer organic juices because they provide energy and are affordable,” he said. “Many families cannot continuously buy expensive bottled drinks, and access to clean drinking water remains a challenge in several localities especially in Peshawar.”
According to residents, aging water pipelines, leakages and declining groundwater levels mostly by cars washing stations have negatively impacted water quality in parts of the city.
In many neighborhoods, concerns about water contamination due to pipes leakages have pushed people toward alternative sources of refreshment, mangoes, banana and gur juices during the summer months.
For daily wage earners and lower-income households, a glass of sugarcane juice often costs less than commercially packaged beverages while providing immediate relief from the heat.
The story of Ehtisham’s thriving juice stall is also a reflection of a larger reality unfolding across Peshawar that is grappling with the pressures of rapid urbanization.
Once celebrated as the city of flowers, Peshawar is increasingly struggling to accommodate a growing population drawn by opportunities in education, healthcare, employment and business, putting extra pressure on water.
Residents across neighborhoods including Kohati, Gunj, Hashtnagri, Faqirabad and Latifabad report mounting civic challenges, ranging from overflowing drains and leaking water pipelines to traffic congestion and shrinking public spaces.
“The smell from uncovered drains at Gunj, Nothia becomes unbearable during summer,” said Haseeb Khan, a local resident. “Children are exposed to unsafe water and poor sanitation conditions. These issues directly affect public health.”
The consequences of rapid urban expansion are visible throughout the city where roads remain congested during peak hours, hospitals and schools face growing pressure, and municipal services often struggle to keep pace with rising demand.
Shafiq Khan, a resident of Hayatabad, said thousands of people continue to move to the provincial capital from other districts in search of improved educational and economic opportunities, putting water resources under stress especially at Hayatabad.
“We came here for our children’s future,” he explained. “But as the population increases every year with over two percent growth rate in KP, basic facilities are becoming more limited and public resources such as water are under increasing pressure.”
Experts warned that unplanned housing developments on agricultural land surrounding the city are further complicating urban management. Many newly developed settlements lack proper sewerage systems, waste disposal facilities, road infrastructure and reliable water supplies.
Professor Dr. Naveed Khan at the University of Mardan said unmanaged urbanization has placed enormous strain on public infrastructure and water resources especially in big cities like Peshawar and Mardan.
“Urban migration to Peshawar has accelerated significantly over the years after water around River Kabul becomes unhealthy following repeated floods,” he said.
“The city is expanding faster than the institutions responsible for managing it,” he said, warning that without stronger urban planning, investment in infrastructure and effective governance, the burden on housing, healthcare, education and sanitation services will continue to intensify.
Dr. Nvaeed said that Pakistan’s urban population is projected to grow substantially over the next 15 years, creating demand for thousands of gallons water and additional housing units besides new hospitals and large-scale infrastructure development.
Beyond infrastructure challenges, environmental degradation is becoming increasingly visible in Peshawar where air pollution can be seen with naked eye.
At Jinnah Park and other parts of the city, residents complained about worsening air quality caused by growing traffic volumes, industrial emissions and the loss of green spaces.
Urban expansion, experts said, has reduced natural buffers against pollution while increasing the city’s vulnerability to climate-related stresses such as heat strokes.
Political leaders and residents alike have voiced deep concerns about traffic management, drainage systems and access to clean drinking water. Some continue to criticize aspects of the city’s transport infrastructure, including congestion around major corridors.
Officials maintain that efforts are underway to address many of the city’s challenges especially water scarcity.
Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) officials said rapid population growth and unplanned construction have stretched municipal resources but emphasized that development projects are being implemented to improve conditions.
Under various municipal initiatives, authorities have replaced aging water pipelines, rehabilitated drainage networks and expanded solid waste management services in different parts of the city.
These positive measures have improved access to clean drinking water and sanitation services for nearly two million residents, they claimed.
Afforestation campaigns have also been launched in Peshawar and Malakand to help combat air pollution and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
They said water from Mohmand dam to Peshawar would be brought after completion of the mega project.
As the sun begins to set over Hashtnagri Bazaar, Ehtisham Khan continues serving customers eager for a refreshing drink after a long, hot day.
His success story illustrates the resilience and determination of many young Pakistanis who create opportunities despite limited employment prospects.
However, the challenges faced by his customers ranging from water shortages and pollution to overcrowded infrastructure highlight the broader pressures confronting one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s fastest-growing cities.
For residents of Peshawar, the struggle was not merely about coping with summer heat rather about securing clean water, reliable services, healthier living conditions and sustainable urban development.
As the walled city continues to expand, experts warned that balancing growth with planning would determine whether future generations inherit a more livable metropolis or a city increasingly burdened by the costs of unmanaged urbanization that increases dwellers’ problems.
