Resilient Urbanization: A Systematic Review on Urban Discourse in Pakistan

• Main Authors: Latif Abdul, Tao-fang Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Urban Science
• Subjects: Pakistan; sustainability; urbanization; urban resilience; urban plans; urban challenges
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/4/4/76

Urbanization is a common phenomenon in the modern world. It has come with new challenges, especially for developing countries. Such countries, therefore, have to stay ahead in their preparedness efforts to meet these urban issues halfway. Unfortunately, urban residents in Pakistan are living in serious social, physical, and economic hardships. Despite being economic engines, cities in Pakistan suffer from stresses like climate change, haphazard and unregulated expansion, housing shortage, and a lack of basic civic amenities. While using systematic review methodology, we collected published and grey data from national and international sources. Literature shows that successive governments in Pakistan gave ample space to urban development in most of the policy documents. However, urban resilience and community engagement were given scant attention. This major gap, both in policy and practice, needs to be bridged to promote resilient and sustainable urbanization in Pakistan.