An Evidence-Based Approach to Understanding Sustainable Urbanization in a Developing Country

Urbanisation is occurring at an exceptional rate in developing countries. Urbanization has also become a recent trend in the globalized world. The resources and facilities available in urban areas are prompting rural people to leave their homes and move to cities. Although it is a positive approach for people to move for better lives, rapid urbanisation comes with challenges. Urbanisation is hitting the region of Asia, and Pakistan is also in the wave. This study aims to examine the different aspects that hinder sustainable urbanisation in Pakistan. The results show that poor housing quality and affordability, water and sanitation facilities, poor land management, economic inequity, and lack of participation from the residing communities all act as aspects that could impede the process of sustainable urbanisation in the area. Poor government policies were used as a moderator in this study, and the results reflect that the hindrance towards sustainable urbanisation gets even more intensified if the government policies are not efficient. This study provides analytical insight into the major challenges of urbanization faced by Pakistan because of the rising population and migration. This study provides recommendations to aid in the process of achieving sustainable urbanization, which can be used for policymaking. Studies in the Pakistani context are also an important addition to the sustainability literature.