ities are increasingly the home of humanity. They are central to climate action, global prosperity, peace and human rights,” said Ban Ki-Moon, the former UN secretary-general.

Until 2009, more people lived in rural than in urban areas. Today, around 55 percent of the world’s population lives in towns and cities; the level of urbanisation is projected to reach almost 70 percent by 2050. Asia is home to about 53 percent of the world’s urban population.

To create awareness of the role of urbanisation in global sustainable development and social inclusion, a resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 27, 2013, to declare October 31 as World Cities Day. The resolution stresses the importance of cities and human settlements to be inclusive, safe, strong and sustainable. The theme for the World Cities Day for this year emphasises on Better City, Better Life, and aims to highlight the role of urbanisation in providing the potential for new forms of social insertion. These include greater equality, access to services and added diversity.

Through this initiative, the UN wants to bring all partners and various stakeholders together to share their experiences and approaches to local action and what is needed to empower local and regional governments to create greener, more equitable and sustainable cities. This day also addresses the challenges faced due to urbanisation and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

The growth of the modern industry from the late 18th Century onward has led to massive urbanisation and the rise of new great cities, first in Europe and then in other regions, as new opportunities brought huge numbers of migrants from rural communities into urban areas. England led the way as London became the capital of a world empire, and cities across the country grew in locations strategic for manufacturing.

Historically, cities have been centres of trade, religion, culture and education. However, the absolute scale of urban settlements today only became possible after the Industrial Revolution. The revolution drove people to cities in search of job opportunities in factories. Since the industrial revolution, cities have become more important in our world. We can see that any innovation or new technology in our world starts from the cities. Cities are also large markets for consumption. That’s why they also offer many job and business opportunities for people. This is the main reason why people move to cities. They also offers better lifestyle and facilities.

The emergence of the smart city concept is a modern approach to using information and communication technology (ICT) to improve operational efficiency, share information with the public and provide a better quality of government service and citizen welfare. The main goal is to optimise city functions and promote economic growth while also improving the quality of life for citizens by using smart technologies and data analysis. In this regard, there is a need to encourage global cooperation towards urban development so that the living standards of the people moving to cities can rise.

In September 2015, 193 countries agreed upon the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda adopted by the United Nations. The goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The goals also focus on sustainable cities, as these can only be achieved by significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces. This involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways.

Today, the world is witnessing the greatest and fastest migration to cities and towns in history. An estimated 1 billion people, one in five people in the developing world, still live below the extreme poverty line, and the results of national efforts so far are uneven. Indeed, many governments and local authorities have still to establish their national and local action plans and targets for improving the lives of slum dwellers.

In Pakistan, migration and urbanisation have had strong effects on the economy and infrastructure development, changes in labour market opportunities, family structures, education, health and environment management, security systems and governance. Since 1980, the number of people living in urban areas has tripled, from 22.4 million to 75.6 million in 2017. It is estimated that the urban population is likely to increase from 32 percent as of the 1998 census to 50 percent by 2030. Damage to the urban environment and its surroundings is a growing threat to our cities. This will further distress food and water supplies and other livelihoods.

As of the 2017 Census, there are two megacities, ten million-plus, and 100 cities having a population of 100,000 or more in Pakistan. Of these 100 cities, 58 are located in the country’s most populous province, the Punjab, and one in Islamabad Capital Territory. The increasing urban population has an adverse effect on human and infrastructure development.

Safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services in urban areas are an essential part of protecting human health during infectious disease outbreaks. Good sanitation and waste management practices serve as barriers to human-to-human transmission of viruses in homes, communities, healthcare facilities, schools and other public spaces in the cities.

Access to safe drinking water in South Asian countries is very low. At 36 percent, the situation is no better in Pakistan. Breaking it down further, only 33 percent of rural and 40 percent of the urban population in the country have access to clean water, with vast discrepancies across provinces.

Around 79 percent of households in Pakistan, 97 percent in rural areas, have no garbage collection system. Even in urban areas, only 44 percent of households benefit from municipal garbage collection services. Nearly 60 million people in urban areas lack access to improved sanitation arrangements, and more than two-thirds of wastewater is let out untreated, polluting land and water bodies. All these statistics lead to a warning to our cities to prepare strong strategies to address these issues.

The writer is a playwright and a freelance journalist. He can be reached at pashajaved1@gmail.com and his blogging site: soulandland.com