SCRUTINIZING NOTION OF DEVELOPMENT AMONG KATCHI ABADEES DWELLERS IN ISLAMABAD: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF PERCEPTIONS AND REALITY

Abstract

Urbanization and economic growth are perceived as the product of each other. Whereas developing countries like Pakistan are far behind to have urbanization’s fruit. The country is facing urban population expansion without rapid economic growth which is resulting in urban poverty and social exclusion of a huge chunk of society. The literature review has shown that the urban poor are deprived of utilizing urban places and accessing their right to the metropolis. The dwellers of Katchi Abadees are portrayed as economically unviable, environmentally destructive, and criminal. Therefore, they face discrimination in the use of urban space. Islamabad—the rapidly urbanizing and densely populated capital of Pakistan—appears to be a significant representation of inequality. Islamabad comprises several advanced infrastructures for the privileged, whereas the underprivileged have to settle in certain designated patches that lack basic amenities called Katchi Abadees. The purpose of this research is to look into the perception of the dwellers of these Katchi Abadees about development and scrutinize the impediments to their development. For this purpose, four Katchi Abadees were selected. They were picked for their neighborhood characteristics as well as their urban redevelopment interactions. For data collection, a qualitative ethnographic method comprised of participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions were used. This research study's findings have shown that the residents of these Katchi Abadees are striving for city resources, especially access to education. They are being socially excluded based on their residential status and are dispossessed from enjoying their right to the city. Katchi Abadees' marginalization in the city's decision-making process exposes them to the vagaries of the labour market, violence, and discrimination, health risks, and the risks of natural catastrophes such as landslides and floods due to them being in naturally hazardous areas within the city. Bureaucratically, development largely consists of paved streets, brick homes, and legal status that stand in complete contrast to the development perceptions of these dwellers of Katchi Abadees. A significant majority of the respondent’s believed education is their fundamental right and a key to development for them. Therefore, this research concludes by proposing a society-centric, inclusive, and participatory form of development wherein the selected community defines its problems to identify and implement the found solutions under the emblem of development.