LAHORE: Some 60 per cent of the total population of South Asia has been living in rural areas because of slow urbanisation process in the region compared to other parts of the globe.

“Comprehensive urban planning strategies are need of the hour to manage the region’s urban future,” said Mahbubul Haq Development Centre President Khadija Haq at the launching ceremony of the Human Development in South Asia 2014 report on the theme ‘Urbanisation: Challenges and Opportunities’ at LUMS on Thursday.

She recommended that the economic opportunities provided by urbanisation should be supplemented by improvements in infrastructural facilities and the provision of services that enhance the quality of life.

Urban Resource Centre Chairman Arif Hassan said urban population constituted 31.1 per cent of the total population of South Asia. Of the 23 mega cities of the world, five are in South Asia. Some 40 per cent of the total urban population has been living in mega cities, overburdening the infrastructure and other civic facilities there. The need of the hour has been to frame policies to develop small and medium cities, having adequate civic amenities and other facilities.

Urban Unit Director Dr Nasir Javed said urban centres constituted two per cent of the total land of Punjab. Some 96 per cent of the total agricultural land has not been utilised. In urban areas, the focus has been on developing infrastructure and not on service delivery. As a result there has been negative growth in service delivery sector for the last two decades or so.

Following the tradition of previous South Asia Human Development Reports of analysing issues concerning socio-economic development in the region, the 2014 report addresses the impact of urbanisation on human development in South Asia.

It analyses the numerous challenges and opportunities stemming from urbanisation from the perspective of economic growth, access to infrastructure and key services, environment and governance arrangements. It provides a policy perspective on how to make the urbanisation-driven growth process more inclusive to ensure benefits for all, especially the poor and marginalised.

The report suggests that urbanisation in South Asia has been rapid, unplanned and uneven, with a large share of the population concentrated in a few large cities. The increased burden of population in cities has strained existing public resources. The report expresses concerns about wide urban disparities in access to key infrastructure and services like water, sanitation, housing, public transport, health and education. These disparities are particularly pronounced between the slum and non-slum populations of cities and are a major determinant of urban poverty and inequality.

However, the report also points out that urbanisation is a key contributor to economic growth for the South Asian region, with three-fourths of total growth being generated in the cities. This urban economic growth process is beneficial not only for creating urban employment, but also for contributing to rural development in the region.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2014