Unplanned urbanisation in Karachi
UNPLANNED urbanization is an unnoticed phenomenon that has long plagued the country of Pakistan. We are under the false impression that if urban activity grows that would transpose to the country’s economy surging.
From a theoretical standpoint, this may stand true however, from a pragmatic view this is false. The issue is that in Pakistan, most of this urbanization is unpremeditated, without following a plan or even obtaining permits.
This “unplanned urbanization” drastically lowers economic output along with having an unpropitious impact on the daily life of Karachiites. The city harbors an unofficial population of over 16 million making it one of the most populous cities in the world.
With drastic growth taking place, the city developed in a haphazard manner. Unplanned urbanization negatively impacts the life of Karachiites depriving them of basic facilities and resulting in lower economic productivity.
Unplanned urbanization lessens the economic prosperity occurring in the city of Karachi. Karachi is the business capital of Pakistan and generates over half of the country’s GDP.
With the remarkable opportunities available in the city, there is an influx of migrants from rural areas which, in turn, drives up the population – resulting in unplanned urbanization.
One key example on how disorganized expansion has lowered the economy in the city can be found in the lack of public transport. Being a city with so much revenue, it is outlandish to think that Karachi doesn’t have a proper form of public transport.
The void of public transport damages Karachi’s economy as people are forced to resort to using cars, motorcycles and scooters which results in increased expenses for an individual.
Moreover, public transport stimulates economic growth as it provides jobs and increases mobility.
In fact, an American Public Transportation Association research paper tells us that for every $1 dollar invested in public transport, there is a return of $4. By not having public transport, Karachi is missing out on potential economic returns. Moreover, unplanned urbanization has resulted in electricity shortage.
Load-shedding is a common nuisance that every Karachiite is familiar with, and it transposes in massive economic losses in the industrial sector. Industries that have a large electricity dependence such as Auto, Chemical and Steel are some of the most affected.
Surveys conducted on an array of industrialists claim that load-shedding on average results in a 30% lower manufacturing yield.
Disorganized urban expansion has resulted in a lack of public transport and electricity outage which have lowered Karachi’s potential economic output.
Unplanned Urbanization has worsened the life of Karachiites, stimulating problems such as traffic jams, lack of green spaces, and sewage problems. Due to the city’s disorganized set-up, a plethora of problems have sprung up.
One that has recently gained traction is in relation to the city’s air quality. In the winter season, Karachi frequently ranks in the top 10 worst cities in terms of air quality, with its air being dubbed “unhealthy”.
Bad air quality can lead to shorter life spans, along with many respiratory problems, especially for asthmatic patients. This AQI is caused by lax urban planning (or lack thereof) in which green spaces with trees aren’t commissioned.
Moreover, the city has expanded to the extent in which residential and industrial areas have intertwined, thus, leading to industrial fumes polluting the city skies.
Additionally, there is a massive traffic problem in the city. Housing over 16 million people, it is unfathomable to believe that there is only one major artery that connects this city to the airport and beyond.
There are no major plans that are being undertaken to ameliorate the dire situation. In Karachi, traffic accidents not only contribute to over 30,000 accidents a year, but they also stunt economic growth decreasing mobility.
Hazardous air quality, along with abysmal traffic are by-products of adventitious expansion, that result in a substandard quality of life for Karachiites.
For a city that has expanded over 50 times in just 70 years, it was inevitable for it to experience spontaneous and rampant unorganized growth and economic ramifications that cost the economy billions every year. If the misconception that urban growth transposes to economic success is abolished, the life of many Karachiites will be better. In Karachi, the setbacks of a decentralized urban sprawl are immense, and the environmental damage also cannot be ignored.
The local authorities along with the federal government must take the necessary steps to address this misconception, otherwise this urban sprawl will give rise to an insurgency in order to curtail the unsustainable urban development.
This urbanization is not only depleting Karachi’s limited resources but is putting unnecessary pressure on the local government. Therefore, initially this unplanned urbanization might seem attractive but if not controlled, supervised and addressed, it will turn into an incessant nightmare for Karachiites.
—The writer is occasionally contributes to the national Press.
