The case of Karachi, Pakistan by Arif Hasan Masooma Mohib Source: CIA factbook Contact Arif Hasan, Architect and Planning Consultant, 37-D, Mohd. Ali Society, Karachi – 75350 Tel/Fax. +92.21 452 2361 E-mail:
[email protected] I. INTRODUCTION: THE CITY A. URBAN CONTEXT 1. National Overview Table A1.1 below gives an overview of demographic 1951 – 1961: During this period, there was a sharp and urbanisation trends in Pakistan. The urban popula- fall in infant mortality rates. This was because of the tion has increased from 4,015,000 (14.2 per cent of the eradication of malaria, smallpox and cholera through the total) in 1941 to 42,458,000 (32.5 per cent of total) in use of pesticides, immunisation and drugs. Urban popu- 1998. The 1998 figures have been challenged since lations started to increase due to the push factor created only those settlements have been considered as urban by the introduction of Green Revolution technologies in which have urban local government structures. agricultural production. Population density as a whole has also increased from 42.5 people per km2 in 1951 to 164 in 1998. 1961 – 1972: An increase in urbanisation and overall Major increases in the urban population occurred demographic growth continued due to the trends during the following periods: explained above. In addition, Pakistan started to indus- trialise during this decade. This created a pull factor 1941 – 1951: This increase was due to the migration which increased rural-urban migration. These trends from India in 1947 when the subcontinent was parti- continued during the next decade.