ities are living places inhabited by people. One must consider a city more than just a collection of buildings and infrastructure. Urban planning is crucial for cities. When cities are not properly planned, many struggle to adapt to the ever-evolving challenges of population growth and density, climate change impacts and degradation of infrastructure.

Karachi is facing similar challenges. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have brought significant pressure on city infrastructure, which needs an overhaul in accordance with demand. Add to deteriorated infrastructure, the climate threat and it is clear that the lives of already marginalisedgroups would become even more insufferable.

The rest of the world realiseda long time ago that cities must be planned and strike a balance between human needs with special attention to climate change.There is no doubt that master planning is a complex process, especially when it comes to a city like Karachi, home to 30 million people. There are 19 land-owning agencies. United Nations data set shows that, with 55 per cent of the world’s population is currently living in cities. The number is expected to rise to 68 per cent by 2050.Efficient master planning has never been more important.

To address the complex issues of infrastructure plaguing the city –from water scarcity to heatwaves- Karachi’s new master plan must take into consideration climatechanges that impact the city, communities and people because now all social and economic challenges are tied to climate change.

Karachi has had seven master plans formed from 1922 to 2007, including two before independence in 1947. Despite efforts by authorities, the implementation of these plans has proven challenging. The first plan, proposed by AE Miram in 1922, was the only one fully approved and implemented. The subsequent plans have never been fully implemented.

Save for a few elite settlements, most neighbourhoods are struggling due to high population density and unsustainable burden on infrastructure. The rest of the city is informal, not only in terms of land tenure but also physical infrastructure and services. For instance, pipelines for water supply are present but there is no water supply so that residents have to resort to buying water supplied using tankers.

The social infrastructure, meaning how people want to live and relate with each other, is important. What kind of city do they want? How are they managing the basic amenities?

Recently, a new master plan for Karachi, namely Greater Karachi Regional Plan-2047,has been preparedjointly by the Sindh Local Government Department and Karachi Development Authority, in partnership with some international consultants.

Commenting on the proposed plan, renowned climate expert MehmoodAlam Khalid said, “Karachi is not only a large city in terms of population but also one of the largest coastal cities in the world. It is highly susceptible to climate change.”

“On one hand, KMC has prepared the Karachi Climate Action Plan with C40 Cities, while on the other hand, Karachi’s new Master Plan 2047 is being prepared jointly by the KDA and an international consultant. These two plans could have been one. Why is the Karachi Climate Action Plan not being included in the Master Plan 2047 when all the basic problems of the city are related to climate change?”

Karachi is threatened not only by sea level rise and cyclones as a coastal city, but also by rising temperatures, heatwaves, water scarcity, low green cover, solid waste backlog and untreated sewage, urban flooding, high concrete and asphalt use and air pollution.Key focusareas, like water supply, ecology, building design, air, energy, land use, transportation and waste management require planning exercises with the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. This will helpminimise environmental impacts and promote economic growth and social well-being.

DrSardarSarfaraz, a former chief meteorologist, said, “thereis no doubt that climate change should be considered in planning for Karachi. When we look at the data and trends of temperature, air quality, heat waves, rainfall, or urban flooding, it is clear that the city’s infrastructure needs to be overhauled in line with climate change.”

“It is imperative to take climate change factors into account. Rising temperatures, heat waves, water shortages, lack of green space and reckless concrete construction are causing huge disasters in the city,” said Sarfaraz Shaikh, in charge of disaster management at Al-Khidmat Foundation, Karachi.

“If we are to have any hope of meeting climate challenges effectively then we have to go for sustainable, green and climate friendly cities. Karachiis becoming an antithesis of a sustainable city.We can’t afford to lose any more time incapacitating ourselves for climate friendly urban growth,” said Farhan Anwar, an urban planner.

The contributor is a Karachi-based urban planner and geographer