Longitudinal Investigation of Open Spaces Development in Pakistan

Abstract

Sustainable cities are places that meet the needs of their current dwellers without compromising the community's future needs. A city's urban form comprises many components such as residential, commercial, industrial, and urban open spaces. An environment-friendly and livable city results from proper planning and detailing of these aspects. Open spaces are termed as lungs of a city, and their presence is significant for the physical and mental well-being of the residents. The present study investigates the existing open spaces in Pakistan's federal capital (Islamabad) and provincial capitals (Lahore and Peshawar). In Pakistan's haphazard and accidental urbanization, the rapid consumption of open spaces has remained a weak link or an ignored area. In the face of increasing population, unprecedented increase in the built-up area in Pakistan's urban centers, and the lack of policy, open spaces are shrinking. The role of governments in the management and maintenance of open spaces has been recognized globally. Stable and continued local government system is a must for ensuring that the cities are planned and managed in accordance with the will of the people. Pakistan is sadly lagging as the rest of the developed world has realized the importance of open spaces. Effective legislation on open public spaces, backed by efficient policy implementation, is essential for smooth urbanization in Pakistan, the fastest urbanizing country in South Asia. The research has tried to map the scenario of open spaces through three dimensions. Starting with the temporal changes and trends that occurred in open spaces for three cities over a specific period with the help of satellite imagery and GIS software. Then obtaining public perception about socioeconomic and environmental impacts of open spaces on the public through a questionnaire survey performed with the city dwellers. This, in turn, formulated a correlation between the sustainability of open spaces in these cities. It is essential to consider environmental, social, and economic factors as a challenge and develop longterm strategic planning. Lastly, the development, implementation, and impact of policies, legislation, and regulations in Pakistan regarding open spaces apart from discussing the definition of open space used and implemented globally. In this way, proper direction for developing a strategy to cope with rapid urbanization will be formulated. The pressures mentioned earlier on cities can be released effectively and positively. As a policy area, open spaces have remained ignored. Unless a balance is Table 1: Policies in different eras for Peshawar city xiv achieved in meeting the housing needs of the increasing population and planned urbanization, the future of open public spaces remains bleak. Besides this, the research helps formulate a strategy for developing a sustainable open space network in the existing metropolitan cities of Pakistan.