Ms. Ayesha Latif, Green Blogger, Dept. of Environmental sciences, GCWUS
World Health Organization (WHO) reports that a statement was made by Dr. Justine Namara on ,05thJune 2019, during the World’s Environmental day commemoration with the theme “Air Pollution” that “Urbanization is the major causes of all forms of pollution ranging from air, water and land respectively”. Dr. Justine Namara- Head, Department of Environmental science at Makerere University stated that increasing urbanization increase the traffic rate in cities, which puts harmful impacts on local people health and also pollute atmosphere.
But the question is here why people move to cities? And the answer is that because in rural areas they could not meet their needs well. In rural areas, people do not get the facility of education, hospitals, transportation, water supply and the most important for which almost more than half urbanization occurs is low GDP of rural areas. People move to cities to earn money because there is shortage of opportunities in cities.
But cities are facing a lot of problems due to urbanization; one of them and on the top is the decreases in aesthetic beauty and environmental degradation in cites. People cut off trees for the sake of land to live, industrial zone expand due to fulfill the needs of people and pollution is increasing day by day.
Pakistan is a country which has the highest rate of urbanization in South Asia. In 1998, 32.5% population lives in urban areas but in 2017, this rate increase to 36.4%.it is estimated that till 2025, nearly half of the country’s population will be live in cities. As we people mostly hear about the disadvantages of urbanization but there are lot benefits of urbanization. Urbanization is generally considered to be closely related to economic growth. Globally, it is estimated that cities generate more than 80% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).the more urbanized areas indicate the higher per capita income and more employment opportunity. Urbanization has positive impact on technological innovation and economic growth.
But these all benefits could achieve by developing a sustainable environment in urban areas. There should be proper structured areas. Firstly a vision and coherent policy framework should be made. According to which the average trip length to workplaces, schools, and shopping areas can be reduced through compact development, mixed use zoning and proper location of public uses resulting in the reduced consumption of fuel and reduced pollution level. Industries should be placed far from populated areas. There should be proper traffic management and public transport planning. There should be separate pathways for cars, buses and motor bikes because sustainable public transport takes less road space and creates less pollution. Green shaded streets should make to reduce pollution level and to increase the beauty of cites. Same like parks should be built at frequent intervals and plants should be planted on footpaths.
Development of proper infrastructure services such as water supply, sewerage and drainage system, electricity and gas may be carried out to reduce pollution levels in the cities. There should be a proper waste collection and disposal system for all cities. There should be the usage of alternative fuels in transportation. These all steps could be taken by Government but people should also contribute to make urbanization successful by spreading awareness, by reducing the amount of waste, by reusing the waste to another use and by recycling the raw material from waste such as glass, tin, plastic and paper.
At the last I just want to say that if there are proper structured cites than urbanization remains no longer a problem. Infect we can increase our country’s whole GDP. And even Islamabad has a proper planed structure but unfortunately there is the lake of implementation and enforcement.
Ayesha Latif
Dept. of Environmental Sciences
The Earth Needs Love