Sustainable Urbanization and Food Security in Pakistan

In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed rapid urbanization, bringing both opportunities and challenges. This growth, however, has been largely unplanned, leading to issues such as food insecurity, loss of agricultural land, inadequate infrastructure, pollution, and deforestation. The uneven development in urban centers results in significant disparities in food security, with industrial areas often more secure due to job availability compared to non-industrialized regions.

The Urbanization-Food Security Dilemma

Food security, defined as having consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, varies not only between urban and rural areas but also within different parts of the same city. For instance, industrialized regions tend to experience better food security due to higher employment rates and better infrastructure. In Pakistan, the food security of a household is influenced by several factors, including family structure, education level of the household head, household size, number of earners, and location.

Understanding the Socioeconomic Determinants

To understand food security dynamics, a research study was conducted in four neighborhoods of Faisalabad: Christian Town, Ashrafabad, Kamalpur, and Nalka Kohala. The study collected data from 160 households using a stratified random sampling technique, with 40 respondents from each neighborhood. The research aimed to assess how different household characteristics affect food security and to identify key determinants of urbanization-related food insecurity.

The findings revealed that joint families were more food secure than nuclear families. Around 70% of households in Christian Town, for example, followed a joint family structure, leading to a more stable food security situation due to pooled resources. On the other hand, neighborhoods like Kamalpur and Ashrafabad, with a greater prevalence of nuclear families, experienced higher levels of food insecurity. This reflects the advantage joint families have in sharing resources and supporting each other in times of need.

The Impact of Age and Education

Age and education level of the household head also played a crucial role. The study found that food insecurity increased as the age of the household head rose beyond 46 years. Households headed by individuals aged 56 and older showed a sharp decline in food security. Education had a positive effect; heads of households with higher education were more likely to provide food security for their families. Graduates and post-graduates had a significant advantage over illiterate or minimally educated household heads, underscoring the value of education in improving food access and financial stability.

Income Levels and Employment

Income is a critical factor in food security, with households having more than one earner displaying greater resilience. Families with two or three earners were significantly more food secure compared to those with only one earner. However, households with four or more earners did not necessarily see increased food security, as the quality of employment often declined, with most earners in such households working in unskilled labor roles. This highlights the importance of not just employment, but skilled and well-paying jobs in achieving food security.

In terms of income levels, households earning PKR 20,000 or less per month faced more severe food insecurity, while those earning above PKR 50,000 per month had relatively stable food access. This finding emphasizes the need for policies to boost income opportunities and reduce poverty in urban and peri-urban areas.

The Role of Location in Food Security

The study showed that location within the city also affected food security. Peri-urban areas like Kamalpur and Nalka Kohala exhibited better food security compared to urban centers such as Christian Town and Ashrafabad. Households in peri-urban areas benefited from proximity to agricultural activities, enabling easier access to fresh food at lower costs. In contrast, highly urbanized neighborhoods had limited access to local food sources and relied heavily on market purchases, which are susceptible to price fluctuations.

Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Urbanization

To address the food security challenges associated with urbanization, several policy recommendations can be made:

1. Price Control for Essential Commodities: The government should monitor and regulate food prices to ensure affordability for urban dwellers. This can help low-income families access essential food items even during price hikes.

2. Technical and Vocational Education: Launching skill-based programs in urban areas can equip residents with employable skills, increasing their income potential and, consequently, food security.

3. Job Creation for Graduates: The government should focus on creating job opportunities for educated youth, particularly in urban centers, to reduce unemployment and improve the financial resilience of families.

4. Vertical Housing Solutions: To preserve agricultural land, authorities should encourage vertical expansion in urban housing. This approach can minimize the loss of farmland to urban sprawl while providing adequate housing for urban populations.

5. Enhancing Agricultural Productivity: Investment in advanced agricultural technologies can increase food supply, benefiting both urban and peri-urban communities. Higher productivity will also keep food prices stable, aiding food security in urban areas.

6. Regulated Urban Planning: To prevent haphazard urban expansion, housing societies should be licensed and adhere to development regulations. This can help protect farmland and maintain green spaces, balancing urban growth with environmental sustainability.

7. Promoting Local Markets: The government should facilitate the development of local food markets in urban areas, making fresh produce more accessible and affordable for city dwellers.

8. Discouraging Rural-to-Urban Migration: By establishing small industries in rural areas, the government can reduce the pressure of urban migration. This would relieve urban areas of excessive population growth, making it easier to manage resources and maintain food security.

The Road Ahead for Urban Pakistan

Urbanization is inevitable in Pakistan, but the current patterns of unplanned and uneven growth are not sustainable. As the population in urban areas swells, so does the demand for resources, including food. Ensuring food security in urban Pakistan requires a multi-faceted approach involving economic, social, and infrastructural reforms.

By focusing on education, employment, and regulated urban planning, Pakistan can build cities that not only accommodate a growing population but also support their food security needs. With these measures, the country can strive for a balanced, sustainable urban future, where the needs of all residents are met, and food insecurity is minimized.

Through effective policies and community efforts, Pakistan can turn the challenges of urbanization into opportunities for sustainable development and secure a food-secure future for its urban populations.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

Asim Yasin holds MPhil Economics degree, and Muhammad Khalid Bashir is serves as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics and as a Co-Chair in the Policy, Advocacy and Outreach of the Pak-Korea Nutrition Center (PKNS) project at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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