Urbanisation in Pakistan

Urbanisation in Pakistan has increased since the time of independence and has several different causes. The majority of southern Pakistan's population lives along the Indus River. Karachi is its most populous city.{{cite web|title=The Urban Frontier—Karachi|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91009748|publisher=National Public Radio|date=2 June 2008| access-date=2 July 2008}} In the northern half of the country, most of the population lives in an arc formed by the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Nowshera, Mardan and Peshawar. During 1990–2008, city dwellers made up 36% of Pakistan's population, making it the most urbanised nation in South Asia. Furthermore, 50% of Pakistanis live in towns of 5,000 people or more.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/17/pakistan|work=The Guardian |location=London|title=Pakistan looks to life without the general|author=Jason Burke|date=17 August 2008|access-date=20 May 2010}} Pakistan is one of south Asia's most rapidly urbanising countries, as of at least early 2024.

According to the 2023 digital census conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the urban population of Pakistan has increased to 38.82% of the total population. This marks a rise from 36.4% reported in the 2017 census.{{Cite web |title=Urbanisation in Pakistan |url=https://www.undp.org/pakistan/urbanisation-pakistan |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=UNDP |language=en}} The total population has grown to 241.49 million, with the urban population now numbering approximately 93.75 million.

Historical causes of urbanisation

File:Ethnic Groups Urban Pakistan.jpg

The British relinquished control of the colony in 1947 with the Great Partition of India and Pakistan, leaving the region in turmoil because of the vacuum of power, and the resulting mass migrations. The repercussions can still be seen today, as many still lack basic food and housing security in both India and Pakistan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-fading-memory-of-partition-india-pakistan-bangladesh/376120/|title=The Fading Memory of South Asia's Partition|last=Basu|first=Tanya|work=The Atlantic|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en-US}} Much of this was caused by the loss and destruction of property – and therefore capital and financial stability – during the migrations. Additionally, this rapid movement to and overcrowding of cities has led to the emergence of informal settlements, known as katchi abadis in Karachi.{{Cite book|title=Planet of slums|author=Davis, Mike|date=2006|publisher=Verso|isbn=978-1-84467-022-2|location=London |oclc=58454487}}

Immigration, both from within and outside the country, is regarded as one of the main factors that have contributed to urbanisation in Pakistan. One analysis of the 1998 Pakistan Census highlighted the significance of the independence of Pakistan in 1947 in the 1940s in the context of understanding the urban change in Pakistan.{{cite book|last=Clark|first=David|title=The Elgar Companion to Development Studies|url=https://archive.org/details/elgarcompanionto00clar|url-access=limited|year=2006|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=978-1-84376-475-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/elgarcompanionto00clar/page/n710 668]}} During the independence period, Muslim Muhajirs from India migrated in large numbers and shifted their domicile to Pakistan, especially to the port city of Karachi, which is today the largest metropolis in Pakistan.

Migration from other countries, mainly those in the neighbourhood, has further catalysed the process of urbanisation in Pakistani cities. Of particular interest is migration that occurred in the aftermath of the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, in the form of stranded Biharis who were relocated to Pakistan. Smaller numbers of Bengalis and Burmese immigrants followed suit much later. The Soviet invasion in the 1980s forced millions of Afghan refugees into Pakistan, but most of them have been repatriated since 2002.[http://unhcrpk.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/VolRep_Summary_20161101_v1.pdf Voluntary Repatriation Update] (UNHCR Nov. 2016)[http://unhcrpk.org/unhcr-welcomes-new-government-policy-for-afghans-in-pakistan/ UNHCR welcomes new government policy for Afghans in Pakistan] (UNHCR Feb. 7, 2017) Inevitably, the rapid urbanisation caused by these large population movements has also brought new political and socio-economic complexities.

In addition to immigration, economic events such as the Green Revolution and political developments, among a host of other factors, are also important causes of urbanisation.

As of at least early 2024, Pakistan is one of the most rapidly urbanising counties in south Asia.{{Cite book |last=Curtis |first=Simon |title=The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order |last2=Klaus |first2=Ian |date= |publisher=Yale University Press |year= |isbn=9780300266900 |location=New Haven and London |publication-date=2024 |pages=42}}

Province wise

In 1998, 32.52% of Pakistani lived in Urban areas and has risen to 36.38% in 2017. In the 2017 census, the Urbanization trend has increased in all administrative divisions of Pakistan except Islamabad Capital Territory, where it witnessed a sharp decline in Islamabad Capital Territory.In 1998, 65.72% of the population in Islamabad lived in urban areas and this dropped to 50.58% in 2017.

Sindh is the most urbanized province in Pakistan with 52.02% of its population living in urban areas. Sindh has seen an increase in Urbanization from 48.75% in 1998 to 52.02% in 2017.FATA is the least urbanised province with only 2.84% living in Urban areas{{Cite news|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2017/08/8-takeaways-from-the-population-census-2017-results/|title=8 takeaways from the population census 2017 results|access-date=10 April 2020}}

Effects of urbanisation on public health

With the proliferation of slums comes a plethora of related issues, such as public health, infrastructural, and sanitation issues. The infrastructure cannot support the population size, and in the rural areas, plumbing/wells/etc. often cannot be afforded, leading to water contamination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pide.org.pk/pdf/Presentations/wasim-presentationscities.pdf|title=Cities and Urban Issues in Pakistan|last=Malik|first=Wasim S}} Many water sources are highly contaminated because of the lack of regulations and monitoring by the government. As a result, there is industrial waste and sewage contaminating water sources, as well as high fluoride and arsenic contents, which is further exacerbated by monsoon flooding, thus causing many epidemics throughout the years.{{Cite journal|last=Azizullah|first=Azizullah|last2=Khattak|first2=Muhammad Nasir Khan|last3=Richter|first3=Peter|last4=Häder|first4=Donat-Peter|title=Water pollution in Pakistan and its impact on public health — A review|journal=Environment International|volume=37|issue=2|pages=479–497|doi=10.1016/j.envint.2010.10.007|pmid=21087795|year=2011}} Studies have shown that there are critically high levels of nitrates and chlorides in Karachi's water sources as well as other water-born pathogens causing diarrhea and loss of nutrients, exacerbating the existing problem of malnutrition.{{Cite journal|last=Haque|first=Syeda Jesmin|last2=Onodera|first2=Shin-ichi|last3=Shimizu|first3=Yuta|date=2013-04-01|title=An overview of the effects of urbanization on the quantity and quality of groundwater in South Asian megacities|journal=Limnology|language=en|volume=14|issue=2|pages=135–145|doi=10.1007/s10201-012-0392-6|issn=1439-8621}} Specifically, 1 in 5 "street children" in Pakistan were shown to be stunted, and 1 in about 8 were wasted.{{Cite journal|last=Moazzam|first=Ali|date=October 2004|title=Street Children of Pakistan: A Situational Analysis of Social Conditions and Nutritional Status.|journal=Social Science and Medicine|volume=59| issue = 8|pages=1701–1717|via=Bibliography of Asian Studies - Elsevier}}

List of districts by urban population

class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-hash"

!District

!Urban Pop.

(2023)

{{Cite web |title=TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, KPK |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/kp/pcr/table_1.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, PUNJAB |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/punjab/pcr/table_1.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, SINDH |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/sindh/pcr/table_1.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE 1 : AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, CENSUS-2023, BALOCHISTAN |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2023/tables/balochistan/pcr/table_1.pdf}}

!Urban Pop.

(2017)

{{Cite web |title=TABLE - 2 AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN PROPORTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/kp_district_wise.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE - 3 AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN PROPORTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF PUNJAB |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/punjab_district_wise.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE - 4 AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN PROPORTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF SINDH |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/sindh_district_wise.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE - 5 AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN PROPORTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF BALOCHISTAN |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/balochistan_district_wise.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=TABLE - 6 AREA, POPULATION BY SEX, SEX RATIO, POPULATION DENSITY, URBAN PROPORTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF FATA |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/population/2017/fata_agency_wise.pdf}}

!Urban Pop.

(1998)

{{Cite web |title=POPULATION BY PROVINCE/REGION SINCE 1951, PAKISTAN |url=https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files/tables/population/POPULATION%20BY%20PROVINCE%20REGION%20SINCE%201951.pdf}}

!Urban Pop.

(1981)

!Urban Pop.

(1972)

!Urban Pop.

(1961)

!Urban Pop.

(1951)

Muzaffarabad

|...

|

Hattian Bala

|...

|

Neelum

|...

|

Mirpur

|...

|

Bhimber

|...

|

Kotli

|...

|

Poonch

|...

|

Bagh

|...

|

Haveli

|...

|

Sudhnati

|...

|

Ghanche

|...

|

Skardu

|...

|

Kharmang

|...

|

Shigar

|...

|

Astore

|...

|

Diamer

|...

|

Ghizer

|...

|

Gilgit

|...

|

Hunza

|...

|

Nagar

|...

|

Gupis-Yasin District

|...

Haripur

|147,765

(12.58%)

|

Battagram

|0

(0.00%)

|

Abbottabad

|332,315

(23.42%)

|

Allai

|...

Lower Kohistan

|0

(0.00%)

|

Mansehra

|154,834

(8.62%)

|

Torghar

|0

(0.00%)

|

Upper Kohistan

|0

(0.00%)

|

Kolai Palas

|0

(0.00%)

|

Hangu

|85,727

(16.21%)

|

Kurram

|45,471

(5.79%)

|

Karak

|58,065

(7.12%)

|

Kohat

|278,741

(22.58%)

|

Orakzai

|0

(0.00%)

|

Bajaur

|0

(0.00%)

|

Buner

|0

(0.00%)

|

Lower Chitral

|57,157

(17.84%)

|

Lower Dir

|47,860

(2.90%)

|

Shangla

|0

(0.00%)

|

Malakand

|73,525

(8.90%)

|

Swat

|794,368

(29.56%)

|

Upper Chitral

|0

(0.00%)

|

Upper Dir

|47,842

(4.42%)

|

Central Dir District

|...

Charsadda

|292,426

(15.93%)

|

Khyber

|94,707

(8.26%)

|

Nowshera

|341,959

(19.64%)

|

Peshawar

|1,905,975

(40.05%)

|

Mohmand

|0

(0.00%)

|

Upper South Waziristan

|...

Lower South Waziristan

|...

Tank

|49,172

(10.46%)

|

Dera Ismail Khan

|374,757

(20.48%)

|

North Waziristan

|4131

(0.60%)

|

Bannu

|48,398

(3.56%)

|49,948

(4.28%)

|

Lakki Marwat

|103,089

(9.90%)

|89,252

(10.19%)

|

Swabi

|339,670

(17.93%)

|

Mardan

|453,342

(16.52%)

|

Jamshoro

|521,746

(46.70%)

|

Hyderabad

|2,022,379

(83.14%)

|

Badin

|429,849

(22.08%)

|

Dadu

|439,034

(25.20%)

|

Matiari

|202,673

(23.86%)

|

Sujawal

|88,847

(10.59%)

|

Tando Allahyar

|285,687

(30.99%)

|

Tando Muhammad Khan

|162,142

(22.33%)

|

Thatta

|193,679

(17.88%)

|

Ghotki

|379,382

(21.40%)

|

Khairpur

|844,263

(32.50%)

|

Sukkur

|814,999

(49.70%)

|

Karachi Central

|3,822,325

(100.00%)

|

Karachi East

|3,921,742

(100.00%)

|

Karachi South

|2,329,764

(100.00%)

|

Karachi West

|2,430,428

(90.71%)

|

Keamari

|2,068,451

(100.00%)

|

Korangi

|3,128,971

(100.00%)

|

Malir

|1,166,340

(47.95%)

|

Larkana

|798,151

(44.73%)

|

Jacobabad

|361,917

(30.83%)

|

Kashmore

|271,782

(22.03%)

|

Qambar Shahdadkot

|421,865

(27.85%)

|

Shikarpur

|318,738

(22.99%)

|

Mirpur Khas

|492,175

(29.27%)

|

Umerkot

|258,859

(22.32%)

|

Tharparkar

|144,405

(8.12%)

|

Sanghar

|630,782

(27.32%)

|

Shaheed Benazirabad

|598,120

(32.42%)

|

Naushahro Feroze

|507,244

(28.54%)

|

Hub

|...

Surab

|36,468

(13.07%)

|

Lasbela

|330,585

(48.55%)

|

Mastung

|40,374

(12.89%)

|

Khuzdar

|364,378

(36.54%)

|

Kalat

|44,440

(16.36%)

|

Awaran

|46,836

(26.17%)

|

Barkhan

|14,425

(6.86%)

|

Duki

|9,783

(4.77%)

|

Musakhel

|15,805

(8.67%)

|

Loralai

|59,601

(21.88%)

|

Gwadar

|159,035

(52.12%)

|

Kech

|386,646

(36.44%)

|

Panjgur

|157,693

(30.93%)

|

Jafarabad

|163,393

(27.48%)

|

Jhal Magsi

|24,130

(11.87%)

|

Kachhi

|80,452

(18.17%)

|

Nasirabad

|106,952

(18.99%)

|

Sohbatpur

|14,728

(6.13%)

|

Usta Muhammad

|...

Dera Bugti

|108,447

(30.52%)

|

Kohlu

|18,978

(7.29%)

|

Sibi

|69,300

(30.92%)

|

Harnai

|33,433

(26.21%)

|

Ziarat

|49,402

(26.06%)

|

Chaman

|130,139

(27.91%)

|

Pishin

|243,785

(29.18%)

|

Quetta

|1,565,546

(60.32%)

|

Qila Abdullah

|35,384

(9.78%)

|

Qilla Saifullah

|64,175

(16.88%)

|

Sherani

|0

(0.00%)

|

Zhob

|46,976

(13.21%)

|

Kharan

|80,806

(31.04%)

|

Nushki

|48,572

(23.37%)

|

Washuk

|41,107

(13.58%)

|

Chagai

|20,054

(7.45%)

|

Rawalpindi

|4,210,785

(68.82%)

|

Jhelum

|541,318

(39.16%)

|

Attock

|623,984

(28.75%)

|

Murree

|...

Chakwal

|434,805

(25.06%)

|

Taunsa

|...

Kot Addu

|...

Layyah

|386,282

(18.37%)

|

Dera Ghazi Khan

|807,412

(23.79%)

|

Muzaffargarh

|946,794

(18.88%)

|

Rajanpur

|631,223

(26.51%)

|

Toba Tek Singh

|563,525

(22.33%)

|

Jhang

|800,926

(26.13%)

|

Chiniot

|491,672

(31.46%)

|

Faisalabad

|4,392,979

(48.40%)

|

Lahore

|13,004,135

(100.00%)

|

Kasur

|1,243,882

(30.46%)

|

Nankana Sahib{{cite web |date=10 May 2005 |title=Nankana becomes district |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/138586/nankana-becomes-district |access-date=16 February 2014 |work=Dawn |location=Pakistan}}

|323,388

(19.78%)

|

Sheikhupura

|1,550,793

(38.30%)

|

Mianwali

|363,453

(20.21%)

|

Bhakkar