Urbanisation in Pakistan


Urbanisation in Pakistan has increased since the country's independence and has several different causes. The majority of southern Pakistan's population lives along the Indus River. Karachi is its most populous city. In the northern half of the country, most of the population lives in an arc formed by the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Nowshera, Mardan and Peshawar. During 1990–2008, city dwellers made up 36% of Pakistan's population, making it the most urbanised nation in South Asia. Furthermore, 50% of Pakistanis live in towns of 5,000 people or more. Pakistan is one of South Asia's most rapidly urbanising countries, as of at least early 2024.
According to the 2023 digital census conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the urban population of Pakistan has increased to 38.82% of the total population. This marks a rise from 36.4% reported in the 2017 census. The total population has grown to 241.49 million, with the urban population now numbering approximately 93.75 million.

Historical causes of urbanisation

The British relinquished control of the colony in 1947 with the Great Partition of India and Pakistan, leaving the region in turmoil because of the vacuum of power, and the resulting mass migrations. The repercussions can still be seen today, as many still lack basic food and housing security in both India and Pakistan. Much of this was caused by the loss and destruction of property – and therefore capital and financial stability – during the migrations. Additionally, this rapid movement to and overcrowding of cities has led to the emergence of informal settlements, known as katchi abadis in Karachi.
Immigration, both from within and outside the country, is regarded as one of the main factors that have contributed to urbanisation in Pakistan. One analysis of the 1998 Pakistan Census highlighted the significance of the independence of Pakistan in 1947 in the 1940s in the context of understanding the urban change in Pakistan. During the independence period, Muslim Muhajirs from India migrated in large numbers and shifted their domicile to Pakistan, especially to the port city of Karachi, which is today the largest metropolis in Pakistan.
Migration from other countries, mainly those in the neighbourhood, has further catalysed the process of urbanisation in Pakistani cities. Of particular interest is migration that occurred in the aftermath of the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, in the form of stranded Biharis who were relocated to Pakistan. Smaller numbers of Bengalis and Burmese immigrants followed suit much later. The Soviet invasion in the 1980s forced millions of Afghan refugees into Pakistan, but most of them have been repatriated since 2002. Inevitably, the rapid urbanisation caused by these large population movements has also brought new political and socio-economic complexities.
In addition to immigration, economic events such as the Green Revolution and political developments, among a host of other factors, are also important causes of urbanisation.
As of at least early 2024, Pakistan is one of the most rapidly urbanising counties in south Asia.

Province wise

In 1998, 32.52% of Pakistani lived in Urban areas and has risen to 36.38% in 2017. In the 2017 census, the Urbanization trend has increased in all administrative divisions of Pakistan except Islamabad Capital Territory, where it witnessed a sharp decline in Islamabad Capital Territory.In 1998, 65.72% of the population in Islamabad lived in urban areas and this dropped to 50.58% in 2017.
Sindh is the most urbanized province in Pakistan with 52.02% of its population living in urban areas. Sindh has seen an increase in Urbanization from 48.75% in 1998 to 52.02% in 2017.FATA is the least urbanised province with only 2.84% living in Urban areas

Effects of urbanisation on public health

With the proliferation of slums comes a plethora of related issues, such as public health, infrastructural, and sanitation issues. The infrastructure cannot support the population size, and in the rural areas, plumbing/wells/etc. often cannot be afforded, leading to water contamination. Many water sources are highly contaminated because of the lack of regulations and monitoring by the government. As a result, there is industrial waste and sewage contaminating water sources, as well as high fluoride and arsenic contents, which is further exacerbated by monsoon flooding, thus causing many epidemics throughout the years. Studies have shown that there are critically high levels of nitrates and chlorides in Karachi's water sources as well as other water-born pathogens causing diarrhea and loss of nutrients, exacerbating the existing problem of malnutrition. Specifically, 1 in 5 "street children" in Pakistan were shown to be stunted, and 1 in about 8 were wasted.

List of districts by urban population

DistrictUrban Pop.
Urban Pop.
Urban Pop.
Urban Pop.
Urban Pop.
Urban Pop.
Urban Pop.
Muzaffarabad...............
Hattian Bala...............
Neelum...............
Mirpur...............
Bhimber...............
Kotli...............
Poonch...............
Bagh...............
Haveli...............
Sudhnati...............
Ghanche...............
Skardu...............
Kharmang...............
Shigar...............
Astore...............
Diamer...............
Ghizer...............
Gilgit...............
Hunza...............
Nagar...............
Gupis-Yasin District.....................
Haripur147,765
Battagram0
Abbottabad332,315
Allai.....................
Lower Kohistan0
Mansehra154,834
Torghar0
Upper Kohistan0
Kolai Palas0
Hangu85,727
Kurram45,471
Karak58,065
Kohat278,741
Orakzai0
Bajaur0
Buner0
Lower Chitral57,157
Lower Dir47,860
Shangla0
Malakand73,525
Swat794,368
Upper Chitral0
Upper Dir47,842
Central Dir District.....................
Charsadda292,426
Khyber94,707
Nowshera341,959
Peshawar1,905,975
Mohmand0
Upper South Waziristan.....................
Lower South Waziristan.....................
Tank49,172
Dera Ismail Khan374,757
North Waziristan4131
Bannu48,398
49,948
Lakki Marwat103,089
89,252
Swabi339,670
Mardan453,342
Jamshoro521,746
Hyderabad2,022,379
Badin429,849
Dadu439,034
Matiari202,673
Sujawal88,847
Tando Allahyar285,687
Tando Muhammad Khan162,142
Thatta193,679
Ghotki379,382
Khairpur844,263
Sukkur814,999
Karachi Central3,822,325
Karachi East3,921,742
Karachi South2,329,764
Karachi West2,430,428
Keamari2,068,451
Korangi3,128,971
Malir1,166,340
Larkana798,151
Jacobabad361,917
Kashmore271,782
Qambar Shahdadkot421,865
Shikarpur318,738
Mirpur Khas492,175
Umerkot258,859
Tharparkar144,405
Sanghar630,782
Shaheed Benazirabad598,120
Naushahro Feroze507,244
Hub.....................
Surab36,468
Lasbela330,585
Mastung40,374
Khuzdar364,378
Kalat44,440
Awaran46,836
Barkhan14,425
Duki9,783
Musakhel15,805
Loralai59,601
Gwadar159,035
Kech386,646
Panjgur157,693
Jafarabad163,393
Jhal Magsi24,130
Kachhi80,452
Nasirabad106,952
Sohbatpur14,728
Usta Muhammad.....................
Dera Bugti108,447
Kohlu18,978
Sibi69,300
Harnai33,433
Ziarat49,402
Chaman130,139
Pishin243,785
Quetta1,565,546
Qila Abdullah35,384
Qilla Saifullah64,175
Sherani0
Zhob46,976
Kharan80,806
Nushki48,572
Washuk41,107
Chagai20,054
Rawalpindi4,210,785
Jhelum541,318
Attock623,984
Murree.....................
Chakwal434,805
Taunsa.....................
Kot Addu.....................
Layyah386,282
Dera Ghazi Khan807,412
Muzaffargarh946,794
Rajanpur631,223
Toba Tek Singh563,525
Jhang800,926
Chiniot491,672
Faisalabad4,392,979
Lahore13,004,135
Kasur1,243,882
Nankana Sahib323,388
Sheikhupura1,550,793
Mianwali363,453
Bhakkar352,434
Talagang.....................
Sialkot1,481,968
Gujranwala3,593,971
2,949,118
Narowal349,095
256,657
Okara1,187,504
Pakpattan472,575
Sahiwal757,631
Rahim Yar Khan1,342,252
Bahawalnagar974,118
Bahawalpur1,619,321
Sargodha1,609,587
Khushab418,745
Khanewal716,786
Vehari782,915
Multan2,499,871
Lodhran325,053
Mandi Bahauddin346,141
Gujrat1,324,264
Hafizabad504,380
Wazirabad...
Islamabad Capital Territory1,108,872
Total93,884,702
'		75,670,837
'		43,036,404
'		23,841,471
'		16,593,651
'		9,654,572
'		5,985,497