Pakistan faces significant challenges as it grapples with rapid population growth and urbanization - issues that have been underscored in a recent report by the Asian Development Bank. The country's urban population is expanding at nearly twice the rate of its rural counterpart, with approximately 93.8 million people living in urban areas out of a total population of 240 million. By 2030, the urban population is expected to reach 99.4 million, comprising over 40% of the total population.
The economic opportunities and amenities concentrated in major cities are the primary factors driving this urban influx. As of 2017, about 54% of urban dwellers resided in just 21 major cities, with 34.5% of them living in megacities like Karachi and Lahore. This rapid urban growth has led to an alarming expansion of cities, resulting in the proliferation of unregulated and illegal settlements. These informal settlements, which operate outside the boundaries of urban development planning and regulations, are placing enormous strain on urban infrastructure........