‘Build new cities to up economic growth’

LAHORE: Urban Unit CEO Nasir Javed on Friday stressed the need for building new cities to benefit from economic activities generated by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor trade.

Javed was speaking at a joint visioning session, arranged by The Urban Unit, to secure innovative ideas and public opinion on developing a creative and livable new city in the province. A team of urban planners, multidisciplinary urban sector specialists, GIS experts, and project managers from the Urban Unit, the planning and execution agency for the project, were present to answer questions and solicit ideas. The fundamental questions included as to why the new cities should be built when the existing cities are already facing challenges. The participants also inquired about the optimal locations for planned cities.

Javed laid down the business and governance case for developing new cities in light of migration patterns and urbanisation context. He said 10 to 12 sites had been identified as potentially viable for new city development. The final site would be selected following more analysis and studies. He said cities were being planned in various parts of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2016.