Karachi: The Planning Dilemma!

1. KARACHI: THE PLANNING DILEMMA!byDr Noman AhmedProfessor and ChairmanDepartment of Architecture and PlanningNED University of Engineering and TechnologyKarachi

2. BACKGROUND • Major port industrial commercial city of Pakistan. • Experienced rapid growth phases. • Young in age – a short pre British history between 1729-1839 followed by a century of British rule. • Possessed a population of 435,000 just before the partition of the sub-continent. • Population multiplied to 2½ times and reached 1,050,000 in 1951 due to exodus of refugees.

10. Population continued to expand, far ahead of national averages. • Being the first capital of the country, it also initially accommodated administrative functions. • Currently possesses a population of over 19 million (World Urban Population Estimates). • Primacy of the city has remained intact. • It provides 15% of GDP, 25% of federal revenue; 50% of the total bank deposits and 72 percent of all the issued banking capital in Pakistan.

11. Karachi is portrayed as a troubled city with recurring incidences of unrest and agitation. • Media images often focus on the negative side of urban life. • Foreigners receive cautious travel advices while visiting the city. Image of the city • Fully aware urban young generation (different from migrants and their culture) • Fast increasing nuclear families due to young population • Increasing frustration due to absence of adequate recreational and cultural outlets Social Structure • Informal sector major provider of employment • Land, real estate and property considered stable form of investment • Cash oriented / undocumented economy on the rise • Formal economy marginally catering to the society Economic setup 2. SOME GROUND REALITIES

12. Densification of the inner city areas – planned / unplanned neighbourhoods also densifying first • Linear growth pattern persisting – illegal land subdivisions continuing without control – ribbon commercialisation • Several prime relocation projects on the halt. Physical conditions • Water inappropriately managed, distributed and produced • Natural creeks and storm drains acting as city sewers – people managing their own internal systems • Recycling industry informally supporting major chunk of urban waste • Informal sector arranges for the public transport to a sizable extent – recent addition being tri-wheelers Infrastructure and services • Municipalities losing their management strength – tutelage of province intact • Limited management capacity of lower tiers • Absence of representative decision making • Civil administration relying an high sounding high scale development projects. Administrative setup

13. 3. REVIEW OF PLANNING PROCESS • Six master plans prepared for the city ever since birth. • Most of the plans prepared during the post independence period contained useful proposals. They were never notified. • An adhoc “Package” or programme based approach was followed. Instead of integration, it gave rise to fragmentation and chaos. • Present approach is also based on the same faulty premise. A packaged set of document and outputs shall emerge from the ongoing Karachi 2020 assignment. • Planning and development control have been separated by law. SBCO, 1979 still remains enforced.

14. Sprawl along major arterial roads and link roads • Western and eastern sites major locations of urban expansion Growth pattern • Increasing in number • Inner city squatters densifying • Consolidating and attempting to improve • People moving into squatters from planned areas that have become slums Squatter settlement • Institutional capacities shrinking (KWSB-KMC and KESC are clear examples) • People resorting to alternatives (own power generation) • Transport service on a total break down Infrastructure • Not willing to accept ground realities • Influenced by interest groups • Centrally governed by provincial and federal governments • Lured by market forces – commercialization policy of major roads an example Urban Administration 4. FEW PROMINENT DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

15. View of mini-buses operating on Karachi roads

16. A view of overloading

17. Qingchi – and other modes of para transit rising fast

18. CNG Buses before their maiden take off – A desirable option - Far away from reality

19. Open field/playground lost due to sewerage disposal

20. Waste bin not utilised due to its improper design

21. Water obtained through pumps and transported through carts

22. Stagnant sewage in a lane

23. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE PLANNING PROCESS

26. Politicians / Decision Makers Planners & Professionals Interest Group A Interest Group B The nexus of politicians / decision makers with planners / professionals produces the plans / projects / programmes according to their respective desires. The interest groups are not included in the process. Administrative and Communication barrier Interest Group C Figure – 1: Existing state of urban & regional planning

27. Interest Group B Interest Group A A B C Politicians / Decision Makers Planners and Professionals Figure – 2: An ideal scenario – planners, politicians and interest groups have consensus on all the major issues.

28. Politicians / Decision Makers Planners & Professionals A B C Figure – 3: The interest groups, planners and politicians / decision makers develop mutual understanding on urban & regional planning objectives accommodating differences in interests – a realistic approach to consensus building for urban and regional planning.