ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a conference organised by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) on Wednesday while highlighting rapidly growing urbanisation in Pakistan have revealed that symbolically 88 percent of the country’s population is urban against official figures of 39 percent. The seminar titled “Infrastructural Imbalances Amid Rapid Urbanisation in Pakistan,” brought together leading experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by rapid urban growth in Pakistan. They said that according to official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) around 39 percent Pakistan’s population is urban, but the World Bank study found 88 percent living in urban-like conditions, of which 46 percent high-density and 42 percent moderately dense. They underscored the urgent need for comprehensive urban reforms, warning that Pakistan’s rapidly growing cities are outpacing the development of essential infrastructure and services. The seminar explored the complex interplay between urbanisation, infrastructure development, and governance, with a particular focus on how the growing urban population is outpacing the expansion of vital services and infrastructure. Dr M Shafaat Nawaz, RASTA Fellow and Fulbright PhD from the University of Illinois Chicago, opened the discussion with a thought-provoking presentation that reframed Pakistan’s urbanisation narrative. Dr Nawaz challenged the conventional perception that Pakistan’s urbanisation is a gradual process, suggesting that the nation may already be highly urbanised, with 88 percent of the population living in urbanised areas, according to a recent study by the World Bank. He highlighted the mismatch between the urban reality and the official urbanisation statistics, which suggest only 39 percent of the population is urban. This discrepancy has led to significant infrastructural imbalances, exacerbating issues such as housing shortages, water scarcity, traffic congestion, and waste accumulation. Fauzia Rizwan, Director of The Urban Solutions Pvt Ltd and Risham Amjad, Consultant at the Asian Development Bank, further elaborated on these challenges, emphasising the need for a unified approach to urban planning that addresses not only the physical infrastructure but also social infrastructure, such as healthcare and education. Key discussions revolved around Pakistan’s secondary cities, which are often overlooked despite their increasing urbanisation. These cities, which host a large portion of the country’s urban population, have received less policy attention compared to megacities like Karachi and Lahore. The panelists called for a redefinition of urban areas to align with the actual realities on the ground, noting that such reclassification could significantly boost local government revenues through property taxes, thus enabling better infrastructure and services for these rapidly growing areas. Another pressing issue discussed was the country’s critical shortage of housing units, with an estimated 9 million housing units needed. The shortage is not just about the number of units but also about affordability and accessibility, particularly for vulnerable populations. Over 50 percent of urban residents are living in informal settlements or below-standard housing conditions, a stark reminder of the urban-rural divide that still exists in Pakistan. The seminar also highlighted the role of municipal governments, which are critically underfunded and unable to meet the growing demand for urban services. The lack of adequate water supply, waste management, and sewage systems was identified as a major impediment to the quality of life in urban areas, contributing to public health crises such as air pollution, which is responsible for over 200,000 premature deaths annually in Pakistan. Bilal Aftab, Staff Economist at PIDE, moderated the session and concluded with a call for integrated policy reforms. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026