2. Issues of defining “urban”
• Until 1972 any area with a population of more
than 5000
OR
• Having the administrative status of a
municipal corporation, municipal committee,
town committee or cantonment board
OR
• Any area having ‘urban characteristics’
3. Problems
• In the census of 1981 the discretionary power of the
census commissioners was removed
• That declassified many areas previously declared as
urban centers thus resulting in an underestimation of
urban population
• Because of administrative boundaries being the
deciding factor people living outside those
boundaries were not counted as urban
4. New trends in urbanisation
• Historically significant cities have become
major urban systems
• Peri-urban areas have gained significance
• Urban Regions such as Rawalpindi-Taxila-Wah
in northern Punjab
5. Statistics
• 1901 ---- 16.5 million ---- 10% urban
• 1941 ---- 28 million ---- 15% urban
• 6.5 million refugees
• 1951 ---- 33.8 million ---- 18% urban
• 1998 ---- More than 32% urban
7. History
• Gained importance during the rule of Babar
• Suffered setbacks during the attacks by the
Sikh and the Afghan invaders
• Regained glory under the British Raj when it
was declared capital of Punjab
8. The colonial legacy (1)
• The British did not pay attention to the walled
city as they were to live segregated from the
subjects
• They built two new settlements the civil lines
and cantonment
• The concept of segregation with the passage
of time translated into the segregation of the
rich and the poor (with respect to housing)
9. The colonial legacy (2)
• Historically there was hardly a distinction
between the places of the poor and the rich
people
• With the British in power however, the
principle of segregation was adopted by the
middle class
• These people settled on the areas between
the walled city and the civil lines
10. Political Economy of Lahore
• Studying the changes in Lahore since
independence it is clear that the development
of Lahore is directly influenced by changes at
the federal level
• The time is divided into four periods:
• The Muslim League Rule (1958-71)
• The Military Rule (1958-71)
• The Social Democratic Rule (1971-77)
• The Military Rule of General Zia (1977-88)
11. The Muslim League Rule (1958-71)
• Traders and merchant-industrialists had a
great influence on the party and the
government
• The economic policies during the period
basically benefited these groups thus ignoring
the social sector
• Lahore being close to the border led to a
feeling of insecurity and hampered its
development during this period
12. The Military Rule (1958-71)
• Economic incentives, subsidies and foreign
endowment to the private sector helped the
economy grow
• There were no planning or development
controls on the growth of Lahore because of
which the city grew around the industrial
zones of Gulberg and Kot Lakhpat
13. The Social Democratic Rule
(1971-77)
• Because of the nationalisation of the major
industries most investment took place in
commerce, trade and real estate
• Because of investment in trade and real estate
the housing sector recorded the highest
growth
14. The Military Rule of General Zia (1977-88)
• Economic policies were modified according to
the policies of the IMF and the Bank
• Foreign remittances increased greatly during
the 1980s
• Black money and capital smuggled through
hundi invested primarily in property and items
of consumption
• 70% guest workers originated from Punjab
20. Public sector
• Schemes planned for the rich and the
influential.
• Hence land cost higher than most
middle and low income houses.
Gulberg
Samnabad
Shadhbag
21. Performance of public sector less
than satisfactory
• Housing and Physical planning
departments (HPPD)
• Lahore Improvement Trust (LIT)
• Lahore Development Authority (LDA)
23. Company Housing
• Housing Estates built without an overall plan.
• Lack of coordination.
• Pakistan Railway Board Chairman sold
railway-owned land.
24. Private sector Housing
• Majority housing stock in Lahore built by
private sector
• Unplanned
• Unapproved
• Unregistered
25. • 1947 – 1960
Allotment process turned commercial
• 1961 – 1970
Inability of public sector to meet housing
demand
• 1971 onwards
Real estate becomes corporate business