Pakistan Housing

Written by: Huzaifa Azim Butt

Reasons for Slums in Pakistan

The rate of rural-urban migration in Pakistan is rapidly increasing. According to Murtaza Haider Assistant Professor of the school of urban planning, McGill University “Over the next 25 years the urban population in Pakistan is likely to increase by 140%. This dramatic increase in urban populations will add another 80 million to the urban population in Pakistan bringing the total urban population to 130 million people” As more people migrate from rural areas to the urban cities of Pakistan, it leads to the formation of slums as there are too many people and simply not enough affordable housing. Such slums grow unofficially in the major cities of Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Faislabad. According to “homeless-international.org” 48% of Pakistan’s urban population live in slums and the total number of people living in slums in 26.6 million.

Video: Stepping into the Slums

Problems Associated with Slums

There are several problems associated with such slums. Firstly, Living areas in such slums are usually very cramped with poor ventilation which leads to health problems among residents. Secondly there is a lack of sanitation facilities leading to extremely unhygienic conditions in the slums, sewage litters the streets; this too leads to health problems among residents. Health problems due to cramped and unhygienic conditions are intensified by the fact they these slums do not have adequate health facilities. Thirdly, since these slums grow without planning and since no proper building codes are followed it make them very vulnerable to disasters such as fire or earthquakes; In January of 2009 a fire killed 40 people in a Karachi Slum. Lastly there is little or no electricity, internet or running water in these slums meaning that residents in slums have a much lower standard of living than other residents of the cities.

Ineffectiveness of Pakistan Government

The problem has gotten out of control due the governments neglect and ineffectiveness. Several City officials do not even acknowledge the fact that slums exist let alone take steps to relocate residents or provide them with the necessary facilities and infrastructure to support an adequate standard of living. What is needed is rapid action in order to provide affordable, safe, properly planned housing for the millions of people living in slums (In Pakistan) today with an adequate infrastructure and other necessary facilities.

Video: Conditions of the Slums in Pakistan