Examining the Impacts of Restrictions Due to COVID-19 on Mobility of Elderly and Physically Challenged People in Megacities of Pakistan
Published: January 2021
Main topic: COVID-19, Inclusion, Crisis response
Study countrie(s): Pakistan
Written by: Farah Khan, Izza Anwer, Paul Timms, M. Shafiq-Ur Rahman, Afzal Ahmed
Study type: Peer reviewed paper
The lack of infrastructural facilities with poor traffic conditions in developing countries is one of the biggest challenges for the elderly and disabled people, particularly for poor income groups, due to their dependency on public transport and other people for travel.
The COVID-19 has made the situation more difficult for the elderly and disabled people. This research focuses over the transportation and mobility issues faced by elderly and disabled people due to the measures taken to curb the spread of COVID19 in Pakistan.
The data was collected using a household survey technique in two most populous cities of Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore. The results show that there was a significant decrease in the number of trips commuted during the lockdown. The active transportation mode was preferred by respondents in Lahore, whereas about half of the respondents find it difficult to commute through public transport in Karachi.
