KARACHI: The 7th International Conference on Urban and Regional Planning (CURP) concluded on Saturday with some experts calling for urgent action to address the issues of impermeable surfaces and (unregulated) extraction of underground water in Karachi.

They also emphasised the need for nature-based solutions for mega cities and inclusive and sustainable planning to tackle the multifaceted challenges associated with informal settlements.

The conference titled Urban Ecology, Sustainable Planning and Inclusivity; Issues and Challenges was organised by the department of architecture and planning at the NED university.

It featured diverse discussions underscoring the complexity of urban challenges and importance of innovative solutions grounded in sustainability, inclusivity, and community engagement.

On the concluding day, urban planning expert Faseeha Waheed delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the challenges and considerations of applying nature-based solutions for future megacities, with a focus on Karachi’s potential as a ‘sponge city’.

The urban planning expert underscored the urgent need to address issues such as degradation of soil nutrients, impermeable surfaces, and water extraction, while advocating for incentives to promote the use of permeable materials in building construction.

Giving a presentation on her study on urban densification of informal settlement in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Afshan Jamshed, assistant professor at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, said that the research comprehensively investigated the impacts of rapid densification and the proliferation of informal settlements in Karachi, focusing on Zia-ul-Haq Colony in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

The research, she said, highlighted the importance of inclusive and sustainable planning to address the multifaceted challenges associated with informal settlements by examining the built environment, building materials, and spatial dynamics.

Another study by Asma Siddika, assistant professor at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, delved into multifaceted experiences of single young adults navigating the challenges of urban living, particularly in Dhaka.

By examining spatial dimensions, social isolation, housing instability, and the quest for meaningful connections, the research shed light on complexities of single adulthood in the city, with implications for urban planning and social policy.

Dr Abid Mehmood, senior lecturer at Cardiff University, UK, in his paper titled “Infinite injustice: Bottom-linked governance of urban informality for social inclusion” highlighted the importance of bottom-linked governance in the age of ‘caring neo-liberalism’.

Conference keynote speaker was noted architect Tariq Alexander Qaiser who started off with his documentary titled Karachi Islands, the Enchanting Forests, highlighting the role of mangrove forests in the ecological landscape of Karachi.

Mr Qaiser’s documentary and the speech was followed by a panel discussion during which he remarked that personal desires and interests were destroying the future.

He raised certain questions such as; will our species survive? How will the concept of equity change? Will it be real or aspirational? Equity and justice both feel like alien concepts, he opined.

Earlier, Dr Anila Naeem, chairperson of the department of architecture and planning at the NED University shared that the conference served as a platform for robust discussions and knowledge-sharing aimed at addressing the multifaceted issues plaguing urban environments worldwide.

It aimed to inspire innovative solutions and transformative approaches to urban planning and development, she added.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024