Arsalan Ali

Transforming cities into more resilient and livable places through long-term planning, substantial investments in green urban mobility, and improved municipal services can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Talking to WealthPK in this regard, Ms Azmat Naz, a deputy director at the environment protection department, Punjab, said improving cities' resilience and livability was crucial for ensuring sustainable development and reducing greenhouse emissions.

She added that achieving this goal required significant investments in urban infrastructure and improved municipal services management. “In Pakistan, like many other developing countries, rapid urbanisation and a growing population have stressed already strained resources and infrastructure,” she noted.

This has resulted in poor livability conditions and inadequate access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Azmat Naz said nearly 40% of Pakistan’s population lives in urban areas and this proportion is expected to rise to nearly 60% by 2050.

According to her, improving coordination and integration among municipal services can improve service delivery efficiency and effectiveness and ensure that urban residents have access to basic services. In addition, she said urban planning traditionally focused on short-term solutions rather than long-term planning. “This has resulted in unplanned urban growth, leading to informal settlements and slums,” she added.

She further stated that these settlements lacked basic services and infrastructure with residents often living in precarious conditions. The deputy director noted that long-term planning that considered all residents and ensured access to basic services could improve urban residents' quality of life.

“To address these challenges,” she said, “we need to adopt a holistic approach to urban development. This approach considers the interplay of various factors affecting urban resilience and livability.”

Azmat Naz said that this approach requires policy reforms, institutional strengthening, and strategic investments. For instance, she added the government could introduce policy reforms to promote private sector investment in urban infrastructure and encourage public-private partnerships in urban development projects.

She said the government could strengthen urban development institutions and create a unified urban planning and management framework. “This would ensure coordinated and integrated service delivery.” “Strategic investments in urban infrastructure and disaster preparedness are also critical,” she said, adding that investments in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can reduce emissions and improve air quality.

Pakistan’s top 10 cities have been identified as major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and high air pollution levels, according to a recent report by the World Bank.The report states that large emissions from energy use, transport, industry, and waste management have led to significant air pollution in these urban areas. This poses a significant threat to residents' health and productivity.

The report highlights that reducing air pollution in Pakistan to internationally established standards could lead to a decline in premature deaths caused by pollution by up to 53% by 2030, and complete elimination by 2040. This would also significantly save health cost while reducing climate change.

Moreover, the report underscores that inefficiencies in the urban transport sector already cost Pakistan between 4% to 6% of its GDP annually. With the growing population, the number of vehicles is expected to more than double in most cities by 2050, exacerbating the situation.

The report states that shift to greener urban transport could also reduce air pollution. The report suggests that improving municipal services could contribute to both mitigation and adaptation targets. Specifically, reducing waste dumping by 25% could result in an overall total emissions reduction of 50% from solid waste management by 2035.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk