he recently released ranking of cities across the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit places Karachi among the least liveable urban options. The megapolis has been in the category for several years. The criteria for this ranking comprise urban safety and security, quality of healthcare and education, infrastructure and services as well as culture and environment as core indicators. Through a well-defined methodology and operating procedures, the rankings represent the general liveability status of major cities comparatively. Infrastructure is the backbone of these assessments. The overall performance of cities on most counts is dependent on the quality of urban services available to citizens. For obvious reasons, Karachi has a long way to go to match the standards of basic urban services that better performing cities enjoy.

Karachi’s infrastructure and services management are constantly appraised by various stakeholders—the business community, investors, realtors, the media, overseas Pakistanis and residents. There is a consensus among them that various components of infrastructure perform below desirable standards.

Water supply and sewerage is the most essential service. According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Karachi has over 2.7 million housing units of various categories in different urban settlements. Most of them do not receive a 24/ 7 water supply. Most of them resort to alternative arrangements to fulfill domestic water needs. Low income settlements suffer the worst. A few years ago, a Supreme Court-led commission unveiled many challenges in this respect. The poor quality of drinking water supplied to citizens; absence of universal service levels to all households—especially urban poor residing in dense downtown and suburban locations; untreated dumping of waste water into Karachi rivers and sea; dismal performance of older and new institutions created for managing these perennial problems are some mentions.

There is a common observation that the water utility has not been able to extend its services to the many low-density low-rise housing estates that are on a sporadic rise along Super and National Highways. It goes without saying that no city can manage its services and infrastructure if it does not plan for future challenges—based on a dispassionate analysis of the current situation—and commits to following the plan in letter and spirit.

An immediate task for Karachi’s urban planning team is to demarcate the city boundaries and service jurisdictions for effective land management and provision of adequate infrastructure and services therein. The ongoing exercise of the Greater Karachi Region Plan 2047 must address this matter on a priority basis.

Liveability is also impacted by the quality of urban land governance and decision making. The demand for urban infrastructure is directly proportional to the scale of developed territory and the people living in it. Land transactions in Karachi and surroundings are marked by inappropriate decision making. Many of the decisions are taken without any scientific analysis or justification. For instance, the provincial administration granted thousands of acres of land to a housing authority in the suburban terrain with a pre-dominant agricultural land use. Soon thereafter, a private realtor acquired huge tracts of land along Super Highway, thus creating huge pressure and anomaly on the already fragile mechanism of water, sanitation and waste management.

The limits of Karachi Metropolitan Area, which previously extended to toll plaza, now stretch many more kilometres beyond it. The distinction between Karachi’s urban and rural territories is diminishing fast. Once developed, the managers and developers of newly developed housing estates exert pressure on infrastructure agencies to provide water, sanitation and other services.

Lessons in liveability can be drawn from better ranked cities. London ranked 54th in the EIU rankings. Politicians and elite of this country have a special affinity with this city. We can learn how this globally important city has conducted its affairs during the recent times. Many observers say that London stretches far beyond its conventional limits due to the services, transportation links, economic potential, residential convenience and a distinct city sense that it generates for its residents. However, the Greater London Authority and other stakeholders in its governance and management exercise control on trends in development and expected level of various services that would be needed in the near- and long-term future.

A manifesto has been prepared by experts that project the potential of this unique influential city all the way to the year 2065. Re-invigorating city centres, enhancing the quality of life in suburbs, addressing housing deficit, modernising green belt and enhancing linkage with surrounding UK regions are key tenets of this urban planning attempt. Besides, the management of public spaces in London has improved. Authorities do not even spare inappropriately parked e-bikes. They are removed if they obstruct pedestrians and corresponding measures are taken to prevent such actions in the future.

In Karachi’s context, decent and affordable housing is also a fundamental need. Quality, typology and performance of dwelling unit in which one lives plays a very important role in the usual conduct of daily life. The city fares very poorly on this count. There is a visible housing shortage in the city. For many years, no public scheme for housing the urban poor has been announced despite the fact that thousands of households are added to the city’s tally every month. The peripheral land, earmarked for housing the low-income communities has been given to a dubious mega realtor. As a result, existing low- and middle-income neighbourhoods are densifying fast. Single-storey houses on very small parcels of land are now swiftly replaced by five or six storied structures. Most of these buildings are built without any proper design and supervision, turning into death traps for their inhabitants. Many such buildings have collapsed. Poor ventilation and inability to obtain legal electricity connections make life a miserable experience, especially for the elderly, children and womenfolk. Authorities often wake up only after an accident occurs. Official actions start by instituting an inquiry and end by suspending a few staff, at the most.

Evidence based research, efficient decision-making structure and a participatory approach to urban governance is what this city needs. Karachi’s liveability will not improve unless appropriate institutional arrangements are put in place to address the challenges faced by common residents.

The writer is an academic and researcher based in Karachi.