ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: "The unplanned urbanization in Pakistan is contributing to increased crime, violence and civil unrest in large cities and towns," says the latest official study conducted by the NWFP government.

The study, a copy of which was made available to Dawn, said that the outcome of the unplanned urbanization is causing increasing frustration among the low-income groups for social and economic mobility, rising discontent, and ultimately violent behaviour, primarily against urban elites and the state.

It further stated that the unplanned urbanization coupled with congestion in the urban areas and expansion of the urban centres beyond controllable limits is also causing "serious challenges" to the country's infrastructure and service providers. Due to unplanned urbanization, more resource constraints were being faced, including financial, technological and manpower.

Lack of zoning and planning by the public entities and the public at large has led to the unplanned, disproportionate use of land available in the urban areas and its surroundings, which has deteriorated public service delivery functions in the urban areas.

"Putting disproportionate burden on the infrastructure and resources has resulted in poor economic growth, low per capita income, social problems, environmental problems, sewerage, solid waste management problems, traffic mismanagement, and lack of proper/sufficient housing for the urban population."

A disintegrated approach regarding development and providing services has decreased various benefits in the urban sector as various development agencies are moving in their individual sub-sector-oriented direction such as federal agencies, electricity and gas supply companies, provincial agencies, Highway authorities, Cantonment Boards, local agencies, etc.

No effective mechanism for coordination amongst the various development agencies of different tiers of the government exists coupled with the absence of an effective master planning, which leads to overlapping and a high-cost low-benefit scenario.

The major factors contributing to rapid growth on both national and provincial levels is a rapid increase in population and migration from rural to urban areas, the latter largely due to rural poverty.

The study also states: "Rapid urban expansion without effective governance means that virtually every urban centre, including a substantial proportion of the population, is at risk from natural and human environmental, social and economic threats."