By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Large scale migration from rural areas to bigger cities for better access to basic services and employment opportunities without proper urban planning has caused rapid urbanization while adversely affecting standard of living in mega cities of the country.
In developed countries, cities are the engines of economic growth, innovations and entrepreneurship. But in Pakistan, the huge flow of migration due to multiple factors has turned the cities into hotbeds of discontent caused by the overpopulation.
The massive urbanization has also made it a challenge for the policymakers to make planning for thickly populated urban centers. Therefore, if not all, majority of urban areas are being faced with air and noise pollution, water, sanitation and transport issues due to lack of proper sewerage and waste disposal mechanism.
The urbanization challenge seeks serious attention of the policymakers to strike balance between the industrial growth and basic needs of the residents. Similarly, the agriculture sector which dominated the country’s economy for decades should also be focused for sustainable growth and food security.
But over the years, the unplanned urbanization without sound public policies has posed a number of challenges by creating urban slums and environmental degradation. Therefore, urbanization seeks well-conceived policies for ensuring provision of basic amenities of life to the growing population.
As per the available data of the United Nations Development Program, Pakistan has 36.4 percent population in the urban areas — the highest urbanization rate in South Asia.
