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ISLAMABAD, Jan 14 (APP):Speakers at a seminar hosted by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) on Wednesday underscored the urgent need for comprehensive urban reforms, warning that Pakistan’s rapidly growing cities are outpacing the development of essential infrastructure and services.
The seminar, titled “Infrastructural Imbalances Amid Rapid Urbanization in Pakistan,” was held at A.R. Kemal Hall and brought together leading experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from rapid urban growth, said a news release.
Opening the discussion, Dr M. Shafaat Nawaz, RASTA Fellow and Fulbright PhD from the University of Illinois Chicago, presented a rethinking of Pakistan’s urbanization narrative. He challenged the conventional perception that Pakistan’s urbanization is a gradual process, suggesting that the nation may already be highly urbanized, with 88% of the population living in urbanized areas, according to a recent study by the World Bank.
He highlighted the mismatch between the urban reality and the official urbanization statistics, which suggest only 39% of the population is urban. This discrepancy has led to significant infrastructural imbalances, exacerbating issues such as housing shortages, water scarcity, traffic congestion, and waste accumulation.
Ms. Fauzia Rizwan, Director of The Urban Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Ms. Risham Amjad, Consultant at the Asian Development Bank, further elaborated on these challenges, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to urban planning that addresses not only the physical infrastructure but also social infrastructure, such as healthcare and education.
Key discussions revolved around Pakistan’s secondary cities, which are often overlooked despite their increasing urbanization. These cities, which host a large portion of the country’s urban population, have received less policy attention compared to megacities like Karachi and Lahore.
The panelists called for a redefinition of urban areas to align with the actual realities on the ground, noting that such reclassification could significantly boost local government revenues through property taxes, thus enabling better infrastructure and services for these rapidly growing areas.
Another pressing issue discussed was the country’s critical shortage of housing units, with an estimated 9 million housing units needed. The shortage is not just about the number of units but also about affordability and accessibility, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Over 50% of urban residents are living in informal settlements or below-standard housing conditions, a stark reminder of the urban-rural divide that still exists in Pakistan.
The seminar also highlighted the role of municipal governments, which are critically underfunded and unable to meet the growing demand for urban services.
The seminar also highlighted the role of municipal governments, which are critically underfunded and unable to meet rising urban demands. Inadequate water supply, sewage systems and waste management were identified as major constraints, contributing to public health challenges such as air pollution, which causes over 200,000 premature deaths annually.
Moderating the session, Bilal Aftab, Staff Economist at PIDE, called for integrated policy reforms and better alignment of fiscal resources with urban realities. He stressed that infrastructure investments must extend beyond major cities to include secondary and smaller urban centres.
The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session. PIDE reaffirmed its commitment to promoting informed dialogue and policy-relevant research on urban development challenges facing Pakistan