PESHAWAR
\nAs Pakistan\u2019s population crosses psychological barrier of 250 million this year, the resulting demographic pressure has begun to weigh heavily on urban centers, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\nThe swelling population coupled with poverty and unemployment has created a complex web of challenges for urban resources and infrastructure, especially for an influx of migrants flocking to cities in search of better opportunities.
\nWith the rapid pace of urbanization and lackluster policies of the government, KP\u2019s urban services are already under stress.
\nHousing shortages, inadequate educational and healthcare facilities, inability to provide clean drinking water and efficient transportation have become pressing concerns for residents\u2019 especially in big cities of KP.
\nThe problem further exacerbated by unplanned housing societies mostly on agriculture lands in Peshawar where demand for jobs continues to soar, further compounding the issue.
\nThis unchecked urban growth is not just a logistical concern but poses a serious threat to social and economic stability.
\nAs poverty levels rise, and essential services become increasingly overstretched, the region also faces growing food security challenges.
\nA visitor might have been unnerved after inhaling foul smell of contaminated water and garbage of drainage channels while moving in Peshawar\u2019s interior areas including Kohati, Gunj, Khalasa, Hazarkhwani, Lateefabad and Faqirabad.
\n\u201cLeakage of stinky sewerage water from pipes and uncovered drainage channels in these areas exposed residents to different ailments,\u201d said Suliman, a resident of Ganj Peshawar. \u201cWazir Bagh and Mughal era gardens were marred by waste and encroachment as mounting traffic pressure has badly polluted the city atmosphere.\u201d
\nAlthough the government is spending huge funds to address urbanization related sanitation issues and population growth, a lot was still needed to provide safe drinking water and replacement of leakage water pipes to avert health hazards like hepatitis, polio and cholera.
\nProfessor Dr Zilakat Malik from University of Peshawar has also seen basic amenities like housing, schools, hospitals and sanitation under great stress to absorb increasing load of migrants to Peshawar.
\nDuring 1951 to 2017, he said, the urban share of country\u2019s population had increased manifold with number of people migrating to cities from villages every year increasing to around 750,000 exerted extra pressure on socioeconomic services in mega cities.
\n\u201cOne major reason for stressed amenities was unmanaged urbanization by concerned authorities and control sprawl of illegal housing societies in major cities,\u201d Dr Zilakat said.
\nIn next 15 years, he said about 55 percent of the population would shift to urban areas thus exerting more pressure on socioeconomic, housing and infrastructure services. \u201cAround 2.5 million additional houses are required for people in KP with this demand increasing 1.1 million new units annually over next 14 years.\u201d
\nIkhtair Wali Khan, Coordinator for PM on Information for KP Affairs has also seen rapid urbanization negatively impacting Peshawar\u2019s environment where air pollution could be seen with a naked eye while standing in Jinnah Park due to bulldozing of green belts for ill planned BRT and non-shifting of brick kilns and marble units from Peshawar\u2019s peripheries.
\n\u201cBRT\u2019s ill-planned corridor has created traffic mess in Peshawar forcing many motorists to break Iftar on roads,\u201d he said. \u201cLack of car parking in shopping malls, beggars\u2019 influx, shortage of basic amenities and poor drainage system has unnerved the citizens.\u201d
\nHe said the PTI Government has neither fulfilled the promise of a uniformed education system nor has constructed five million houses and construction of 350 mini dams in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
\nHassan Khan, spokesman of Water and Sanitation Services Company said sanitation services mostly in informal settlements are affected due to construction of unplanned large buildings and other infrastructure.
\n\u201cWe alone are expected to do everybody\u2019s bit. Keeping cities clean is a shared responsibility of civic bodies and residents. Therefore, blaming us for others\u2019 follies is unjust,\u201d Hassan Khan said.
\nHe informed that work on a 12-year Municipal Services Program worth USD 44.6 million with assistance of USAID was completed to provide nearly two million residents of Peshawar, clean drinking water, waste management and improved sanitation services.
\nUnder the project, he said 140 clean drinking water facilities serving 448,000 people, replacement of 25,700 meters of old and rusted water mains, ensuring clean, reliable water supply in 21 union councils and rehabilitated sewerage and drainage lines to improve sanitation for 1.7 million people has been achieved.
\nMoreover, he said, this project also ensures more efficient solid waste collection and disposal with improved municipal waste management services including 575 vehicles and establishment of a repair and maintenance workshop for waste management equipment.
\nMeanwhile, Junaid Diyar, Project Director 10 billion trees program said urban forestry was being promoted to combat air pollution in big cities like Peshawar and Malakand. \u201cAround 2.4 million saplings were planted on 2300 hectares land at Agara Malakand while 3.2 million plants at Ghari Chandan Peshawar.\u201d
\nExperts believe there is dire need for structural changes in institutions with technical, legal and regulatory support for appropriate urban planning and strict enforcement of laws to counterbalance negative effects of urbanization.
\nSince politicians, media and religious scholars have a pivotal role in influencing masses\u2019 therefore they need to come forward to educate people in resource conservation and keeping our cities clean in wake of rapid urbanization.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR As Pakistan\u2019s population crosses psychological barrier of 250 million this year, the resulting demographic pressure has begun to weigh heavily on urban centers, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The swelling population coupled with poverty and unemployment has created a complex web of challenges for urban resources and infrastructure, especially for an influx of migrants flocking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-468763","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n