Slums Shadowing the Dreams of Well Planned Cities: Future Urbanization of Pakistan under CPEC

Slums mostly shadow beautiful cities – massive urbanization coupled with slumization is one of the biggest challenge for growing cities. Cites provide attraction for people but this may open-up in tragedy sometimes, trapping the dwellers in slums. Urban population is increasing drastically at global level, half of the world’s population is living in urban areas. This huge increase in population is proportionately involves rural to urban migration resulting formation of informal settlements or slums. Usually these are densely populated area established in or around the cities. Shadow traps more residents than its real city. Intellectual dissection of this problem makes elements of a well-planned city building responsible for nourishing this phenomenon. Pakistan is facing serious problems of slums, about 47.5% of the urban population of Pakistan was living in slums in 2005. This study highlighted the problem of slums in Pakistan and suggested policy recommendation for policy makers for future urbanization in Pakistan under CPEC. With initiation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it is expected to bring immense developments in Pakistan. CPEC is going to accelerate urbanization in Pakistan. Slum development should not be allowed to decelerate this development. For that comprehensive master planning of potential cities is required to cope the challenge of unplanned settlements.