PAKISTAN is grappling with the challenges of rapid population growth and urbanization, as highlighted by a recent Asian Development Bank report. The urban population is growing at almost twice the rate of the rural population, with 93.8 million people currently residing in urban areas out of a total population of 240 million. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to 99.4 million, comprising over 40% of the country’s population.
Economic opportunities and amenities concentrated in major cities are the primary drivers of this urban influx. As of 2017, 54% of the urban population lived in just 21 major cities, and 34.5% resided in megacities such as Karachi and Lahore. This trend has led to the rapid and often unregulated expansion of cities, giving rise to informal settlements that operate outside the framework of urban planning and regulations. These unplanned developments place immense pressure on infrastructure and environmental systems while encroaching on agricultural land, thereby threatening the country’s future food security.
To meet current and future challenges, urban planning must become a national priority. Cities must provide residents with safe and peaceful living environments while offering improved access to education and economic opportunities. These opportunities are the very factors driving urban migration, but their unequal distribution worsens issues like urban sprawl, overcrowding, and economic hardships. Addressing these problems requires targeted development of smaller cities and the decentralization of economic and social services to reduce the excessive burden on major urban centres.
Pakistan’s urban planning remains outdated and inefficient, particularly in smaller and medium-sized cities, where development is often haphazard or entirely absent. Institutional weaknesses and lax regulatory oversight have created an environment where building codes are ignored and population planning is virtually non-existent. Corruption and mismanagement compound these issues, contributing to urban flooding as drainage systems are neglected. Even light rainfall in recent years has caused severe flooding in major cities, highlighting the dire need for better planning and infrastructure.
The unchecked surge in urban populations has also made affordable housing a critical issue in major cities. Millions of people live in substandard conditions as housing demand outpaces supply. Addressing this housing crisis and other urban challenges requires the establishment of a robust local government system. The absence of effective local governance is one of the root causes of Pakistan’s unregulated and haphazard urban expansion. Local representatives are uniquely positioned to advocate for their communities’ development and welfare, making their involvement essential to sustainable urban planning.
Ultimately, addressing Pakistan’s urban crisis requires a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach. A new model for urbanization must be implemented, one that prioritizes equitable resource distribution, strict regulatory enforcement, and an empowered local government framework. Without these measures, the escalating challenges of urbanization will continue to strain the social fabric of the country. By adopting a more sustainable approach to urban planning, Pakistan can ensure its cities not only sustain their growing populations but also thrive in the decades to come.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Turbat, Balochistan.
(gulabumid2370@gmail.com)
