The plight of Loh

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Cities have long been the incubators of civilisations, considered the best material invention by man so far. In shaping our habitat, we have anchored ourselves in an unruly environment, establishing a symbiotic relationship with our surroundings to sustain us. Yet, most of us have forgotten that our relationship with nature predates our ties to the city, and ignoring its presence beyond our needs is the reason we now find ourselves in the midst of an unfolding urban crisis.

Presently, the symbiosis between man and the city is being replaced by a parasitic one, fixated on profits and strictly utilitarian demands, dictating the terms of this new relationship. Cities like Lahore have grown considerably from their humble origins. Lahore continues to grow toward the south, curtailed by its border with India to the east, and now expands toward the west, accelerated by initiatives such as the Ravi Riverfront Project. Despite lofty promises, the project's inception builds upon the parasitic notions associated with the current growth of our cities. It aligns itself with the ambitions of the real estate sector, which continues to thrive at the expense of the city's limited natural resources.

A visit to any low-income settlement reveals congestion and failing infrastructure as characteristic markers of the area. While it is easy to forget these areas within the confines of our homes, the city is multiplying and decaying at an alarming rate. We are reminded of these problems only when they magnify and the apparent worst has happened. Over the past years, monsoon flooding has done just that. It has uncovered the maelstrom of mismanagement and poor planning, leaving most of the city paralysed, if not the entire country. Scurrying through knee-deep water has become the new normal for many. And yet again, the administration awaits the next monsoon to unleash its might on an unsuspecting populace. In the midst of these recurring climatic catastrophes, underdeveloped areas are left to fend for themselves.

In the haste to opt for expansion and acquire momentary capital, as is the case with the Ravi Riverfront Project, we have shifted focus from the problems currently facing the city. The dystopia unfolds as urban areas decay, climatic disasters continue to choke the city, and policymakers shift focus in search of new avenues to build their utopia. In 2023, a historic ruling by the Lahore High Court placed a halt on the Lahore Master Plan 2050. It was a significant step toward reassessing our misplaced priorities. In a rush to add a tally to their name, the PTI government had hopped onto the "expansion means progress" bandwagon to supplement their vote bank, as has been the case with previous governments. The underpasses doubling as public pools are a stark reminder of the short-sighted approach to planning and development.

Cities continue to expand worldwide. Currently, Pakistan finds itself among the most populous countries in the world, despite bleak economic and developmental indicators. Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan, accounts for a population of 14.4 million alone. Rising rural-to-urban migration and a dwindling economy are some of the key factors driving a frustrated population to flood into the city each year, further exacerbating the housing crisis and, by extension, informal housing. Climate change has added fuel to the fire, remaining a major culprit in population displacement due to the loss of livelihoods while further aggravating the economy through diminished production.

Thus, beyond the built environment, we must rethink and reassess our current approach toward our natural environment. No future development in Lahore can afford to exclude its limited natural resources. As a city heavily dependent on its limited groundwater resources, Lahore now faces a dire need for water management. According to a WWF report, the city is headed toward a water crisis by 2025. The crisis reveals itself through the gradual decline in the groundwater table each year, and without any means to supplement or recharge this limited resource, we may soon set ourselves on a trajectory for disaster. Implementing strict regulations against water wastage, building rainwater storage capacity, and developing alternative water sources for the industrial and agricultural sectors could help alleviate the pressure immensely. Currently, a government initiative has been launched in the form of a rainwater storage well near Lawrence Road to recharge the groundwater table, with a few private initiatives following suit, but these efforts fall short of matching the severity of the situation. Collectively, improving water, wastewater, and waste management, along with conserving green spaces, can effectively reduce the present stress on the city's natural resources.

Our focus must be on improving urban planning to limit the city's growth. While the Ravi Riverfront Project may be an admirable effort toward envisioning a city centred around a reclaimed river, it falls short of its promises by considering the river only for its visual presence - a mere trophy for another real estate venture. By forcefully acquiring agricultural land for expansion, it has proved just that. Instead, we must borrow and build upon the revolutionary ideas already being applied around the world. An example is the "Fifteen-Minute City" concept, which envisions a city where residents have access to basic amenities - such as offices, stores, recreational spaces, and healthcare facilities - within a minimal 15-minute distance. This compact-city concept could be envisioned in interesting ways within our own urban context.

In short, we cannot afford to treat land as an infinite commodity. Recognising housing as a fundamental right - on a par with food, water, and sanitation - can help counter the commodification of land by enforcing laws to reduce land wastage in the city. Numerous cities have shared Lahore's misfortune. The commodification of land, where a few people occupy a disproportionately large area, is being challenged worldwide. Japan, for instance, has successfully tackled this issue by imposing heavy taxes to discourage land hoarding, forcing residents to divide and sell off land rather than risk financial losses. In Pakistan, land commodification thrives due to a complex nexus of power that prevents authorities from intervening. With focus on devouring land, we continuously push against the environment until we are left with nothing but a perpetual urban nightmare.

Thus, it is time to rethink the idea of urban expansion and development, which has been maligned by profit-making and financial gain. A holistic approach to planning is required to implement projects and initiatives for the collective benefit of the people while ensuring the necessary inclusion of the environment. This can only be achieved through serious dedication by policymakers and the continued persistence of the people to hold them accountable. Otherwise, we may as well continue bidding time until the next major catastrophe strikes.