CITY PLANNING AND URBAN GROWTH: CASE STUDY OF URBAN REGENERATION & SQUATTER SETTLEMENT IN ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Alike many big urban centres in under developed countries, Islamabad is experiencing a high rate of urbanization. Therapid population growth in Islamabad is linked with quality living environment, adequate infrastructure and community facilities, efficient transport network, natural environment, and job opportunities.Corresponding to rapidly growing population, Islamabad is confronting with the issues of unregulated urban sprawl, inefficiency of infrastructure, overstrained public amenities and housing scarcityspecifically for the poor. Rapidly increasing population in Islamabad has amplified the future demand of community facilities and housing. Most vulnerable are the poor people unable to manage housing at affordable price and are left with no option other than to seek refuge on state owned hidden places mostlyon the banks of water waterwaysotherwise inappropriate for human habitat.This paper is aimed at a thorough study on emergence of informal settlements progression in the capital besides its impact on city planning, surrounding communities, city infrastructure and community facilities.In this study, practicing town planning professionals in public and private arena and crucial stakeholders have been interviewed and pertinent literature has been reviewed extensively. This paper determines the undercurrents of squatter settlements such as high land prices, unavailability of formal housing for these groups, inadequate urban facilities and proximity to work place.The paper concludes with recommendations to yoke the unimpeded growth of squatter settlements in terms of urban renewal, decent housing, communal settlement planning, maintain proximity to work place, social upliftment, environmental upgradation and resource generation.

Keywords: Squatter settlements, CDA Ordinance, Master plan, Urban regeneration, Resettlement housing schemes, Sectoral area