Pakistan’s Policy Imperative for Urban Development Planning: A Comparative Analysis of Urban Development under CPEC in 4 Urban Centres in Pakistan

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become the guiding framework for cooperation between China and Pakistan in terms of development. The project is envisioned to effectively promote the socio-economic development of Pakistan through regional connectivity and integration of development strategies of Pakistan and China to transform the economic landscape of Pakistan. Due to this initiative, an aspect of development under CPEC has been the progression towards urbanization. For the purposes of this paper sustainable urban development variables relevant to CPEC project will be studied, and therefore, sustainable urban development will be defined as “a process whereby the government is allocating funds for the development of facilities whereby there is provision of education, health care, electricity, and infrastructure resulting in the improvement in the standard of living of citizens.” This paper aims at providing a comparative analysis of urban development pattern in the major urban centres amongst provinces (Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Gwadar) by discussing the distribution of assets as well as the utilization of funds and governance mechanisms, for the implementation of CPEC projects aimed at facilitating the process of urban development.