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Pakistan’s cities contribute much less to the economy compared to other developing
countries. Pakistani cities – inhabited by 38 percent of the population – make up around
55 percent of total GDP. India’s urban population is 30 percent, with 58 percent of its
GDP coming from cities. In Indonesia, urban population and urban share of GDP are 44
percent and 60 percent respectively. The cities of Pakistan already face so many
challenges, from the unhygienic housing spaces to load shedding of electricity and gas.
Shortage of water has also proved to be a major problem in these cities, and nobody
seems to be resolving these problems for the people already living in these cities. In most
Pakistani cities, water is supplied only four to 16 hours per day and to only 50 percent of
the population. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 90 percent of water
supply schemes are unsafe for drinking. Tight and congested houses with one toilet used
by multiple families has become very common in the poverty stricken areas in these big
cities. Rural areas today are estimated to make up to 60 percent of urban Pakistan If the
government does not take any action for the betterment of the cities, they will become
much more destroyed than they already are. The State Bank of Pakistan has estimated
that across all major cities, urban housing was approximately 4.4 million units short of
demand in 2015. If current trends continue, Pakistan’s five largest cities will account for
78 percent of the total housing shortage by 2035.The infrastructure of most of the big
cities of Pakistan was unplanned hence when the population grew, adding more houses
made living standards go downhill, and they will continue to worsen in the coming years.
The people come to these cities for better education, jobs and healthcare, however these
cities will not be able to accommodate more people in the coming years if the
government does not take the required measures to be taken. In 2015, an unanticipated
heat wave in Karachi led to almost 1,500 deaths. Karachi is the only megacity in the
world without a mass public transport system. Meanwhile, the cost of private
transportation is estimated to have increased by over 100 percent since 2000.If we
continue down this path, the streets of the cities will be filled with cars and other
automobiles, as the local transport system will not be accommodate the rapidly growing
population. Noise pollution, Air pollution and water-pollution will increase. More people
will be unemployed as the cities have failed to come up with financially rewarding and
productive jobs and crimes will increase to provide families with bread and butter.
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Providing public services will be much more challenging for the government. In
conclusion, the cities will become much messier and difficult to manage.
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Water supply should be improved and clean water must be made available for
everyone.
As increase in population is a huge driver in urbanization, people of Pakistan must
be made aware of contraceptives in order to control the population.
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Buildings will be made of material that would resist earthquake. Any destruction
in it will be reported immediately by sensors.
Remote monitoring will also help in keeping a check on crimes.
Number of government services will be offered online.
All data of budgets will be available online, in order to enhace transparency and
accountability.
To develop a city that is smart, it is of immense importance that the public play a
role in politics, democracy will be the most important block of this city. Citizens
will be active participants in government, and would be able to provide feedback
on e-groups.
More use of public transport will be encouraged in order to reduce traffic on
roads.
More open spaces, parks and recreational centers.
Also housing societies will be created for poor people.
Use of technology and knowledge to generate energy from wastes and generate
re-usable energy to conserve fossil fueled energy.
Provide people with 24/7 water supply, electricity and gas.
Number of hospitals will be made keeping in mind the population of the city and
the future expected population so accommodation of patients does not become a
chaos.
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