Urban Inequality Widens as Pakistan’s Cities Grow

Shahnawaz Jilani

Islamabad: As Pakistan’s urban centers swell, glittering malls and gated communities continue to reshape the skylines of cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. Yet, behind this façade of modernity and growth lies a deeply entrenched urban divide—where privilege thrives in elite enclaves while millions struggle in slums and informal settlements, fighting daily for basic rights, dignity, and survival.

A 2024 study by Pakistani sociologist Zara Husnain offers a sobering lens into the country’s urban development trajectory. “Urban growth has created new economic opportunities,” she writes, “but has simultaneously intensified disparities in access to essential services, further cementing class divisions.”

From Islamabad’s upscale neighborhoods to the crumbling settlements on its periphery, the contrast is impossible to ignore. Sabir, a resident of an informal slum in Sector F-12, sums it up poignantly: “We’re not asking for luxuries. We just want our basic rights to be fulfilled by the state.”

A Tale of Two Cities

Pakistan’s urban inequality is both historical and systemic. Cities have grown rapidly, but planning has failed to keep pace—especially for the poor. The result is a landscape where high-rise apartments and manicured boulevards exist just minutes away from unpaved roads, broken sewage systems, and overcrowded dwellings.

Government policies, critics argue, often serve elite interests. In Lahore, the Orange Line project—touted as a symbol of progress—displaced entire communities, while Islamabad’s zoning laws continue to favor upscale housing societies. Meanwhile, low-income settlements remain vulnerable to eviction.

The urban poor—daily-wage laborers, domestic workers, street vendors—form the backbone of city economies but rarely benefit from them. Without access to affordable housing, many are pushed to the fringes, both geographically and socially.

In contrast, the urban elite enjoy uninterrupted access to quality infrastructure, private healthcare, and elite schooling. Their investments in real estate continue to inflate property values, further driving the poor out of the housing market.

“The Divide Is Just Minutes Away”

Even residents of affluent areas recognize the stark inequality. Inayah, who lives in a posh Islamabad neighborhood, volunteers her time teaching children in nearby slums. Her experience has been eye-opening.

“It feels extremely unfair,” she says. “Just five minutes from my air-conditioned home, there are families without electricity or clean water, especially in this unbearable heat. The children I met lacked even the most basic facilities, and the conditions were filthy. It was heartbreaking.”

This imbalance is not just physical—it’s emotional and psychological. Muhammad Usman, a young food delivery rider, shares his frustrations: “We see the malls, the cafes, the cars… but we’re stuck in sewage and unemployment. It’s hard not to feel like we’re invisible.”

Exposure, Resentment, and Risk

The explosion of social media and smartphones has only widened this perception gap. The poor now witness elite lifestyles daily—luxury vacations, lavish weddings, designer outfits—through their screens, while living in spaces devoid of sanitation or safety.

“This disparity is creating alienation,” warns Shehzad, a sociology student from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. “Urban inequality is no longer just about economics—it’s a powder keg for potential social unrest and long-term political polarization.”

Experts argue that this growing resentment, especially among the youth, could undermine urban stability. If cities continue to evolve in ways that exclude the majority, the consequences could be dire.

Toward Inclusive Urban Futures

Activists and urban planners agree: the current model is unsustainable. They advocate for a shift toward equity-driven urban reforms. This includes:

Inclusive planning that encourages mixed-income housing

Upgraded public services, especially education and healthcare

Accessible transportation and green spaces for all

Legal regulation of real estate to curb speculative investments

Participatory governance, giving marginalized communities a voice in decision-making

Perhaps most critically, informal settlements must be upgraded, not demolished. Evictions only deepen exclusion; integration fosters resilience.

The Price of Exclusion

Pakistan stands at a crossroads. The gleaming skyline may symbolize ambition and development, but the cracks beneath it tell a more urgent story—of disconnection, disenfranchisement, and discontent.

Unless deliberate steps are taken to build inclusive, just cities that serve all their residents, not just the privileged few, the consequences will go far beyond aesthetics. Inequality, if left unaddressed, may transform urban spaces into arenas of class conflict.

Reimagining our urban future is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

This feature report was released by APP on July 1, 2025. The information contained herein is the sole responsibility of APP.