Socio Economic Effects of Mega Housing Projects on Rural Areas: A Case Study of Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Abstract

Housing is not the basic need, it shows the quality of life and living standard. If housing considered in an investment way it promotes economic activities and employment opportunities. Due to rapid urbanization, it become a need to develop new housing projects and housing developments are the outcomes of economic and social activities. Mega housing projects are carried out with the aim of providing adequate housing facilities. Most of these projects are located on the city countryside or at urban fringe in the presence of main road or highway. The geographic location of the mega housing projects is influencing nearby rural areas directly and indirectly. These housing mega projects brings a change in settlement patterns, landscape and land use of that area where these projects are located. The main objective of this research is to assess the impacts of mega housing projects on rural areas and which factors attracts these housing projects towards them. For the purpose to know the impacts of mega housing projects on rural area some areas are selected for a case study to conduct this research. To reveal the rural area challenges and opportunities. Environmental impacts of the mushroom growth of Mega housing projects on rural areas are Consumption of land, over extraction of gravel from river beds or ridges, Growth in CO2 emissions, growing consumption of water, Loss of natural habitats and biodiversity, Loss of best agricultural land, increase in soil erosion, increase in the use of water and fertilizer in less productive areas and increase in air pollution. Sample size was 204 estimated by using Slovin’s formula. Site selected for the survey was the villages around Mega Housing Projects Sample size is 204, total response was collected are 251.The data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS), Pearson Chi Square test, Composite Index method and x Microsoft Excel. To know the impacts of mega housing projects on rural areas an indicator-based approach has been used. Few indicators were selected after interviewing the experts and from literature review impacts data was collected from the selected area by using Likert scale which is unidimensional scale used to collect respondent’s opinion. Results will provide the baseline for indicator-based approach for future research on real estate and its impacts. Education, Health, Market, Social and environment indicator of developed and under developing housing schemes having (p-value < 0.05) shows that factors have significant difference, it means both have different impact on surrounding rural areas. The impact of roads and connectivity, Environment and gender (p-value > 0.05) shows that factors have no significant difference between developed and under developing housing schemes it means that these three indicators of developed and under developing housing areas have same impacts on rural areas. The highest impact factors of attraction of mega housing projects are existing road network and connectivity, Availability of cheap land and largest chunks of land. It means presence of existing road network and availability of land both are the important factors than existing infrastructure, economy, female community, educational institutes and health facilities. While choosing the location of new housing projects these two factors should be prioritized. Furthermore, application of advance statistical analysis techniques can provide a more precise depiction of impacts of these indicators on rural areas.