here are more than 50,000 cities in the world. A city is essentially a system of systems. The connections and community of its many parts make it dynamic and substantial. Its density will increase significantly, specifying the expected urban growth over the following decades. Hence, we need to manage the complex challenges involved in the daily life of a city, including education, health, safety, commerce, transportation and entertainment.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated October 31 as Cities World Day. The day was celebrated for the first time in 2014.

The celebration is meant to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation and address the factors contributing to sustainable urban development worldwide.

World Cities Day 2023 focused on Financing Sustainable Urban Future For All to explore how to unlock transformative investment in urban planning and achieve adequate fiscal decentralisation to encourage economic, environmental and social sustainability.

Another key aspect of the 2023 theme was the exchange of experiences among different cities. By sharing insights and successful practices, cities can learn from one another in positioning themselves to tackle challenges such as inflationary pressures and tightening global financial conditions.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential components of building strong urban economies. As the world is pursuing recovery from the economic losses caused by Covid-19 and the impacts of climate change, an extraordinary level of investment in cities is required for infrastructure development.

The world’s population is constantly increasing. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and by 2050, two-thirds of all humanity, around 6.5 billion people, will be urban. The rapid growth of cities as a result of rising populations and increasing migration has led to a boom in mega-cities, especially in the developing world. Slums are becoming a more significant feature of urban life. Cities currently host 4.2 billion people (55 percent of the world’s population) and substantially impact their surrounding territories. By 2050, 68 percent of the global population will be urbanised, 90 percent of this growth will occur in developing countries.

Most of the urban growth is taking place in small cities and intermediate towns, intensifying inequalities and urban poverty. Poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, waste-disposal problems and high energy consumption have been affected by the increasing population density and demands of urban infrastructure. Strong city planning will be essential in managing these and other difficulties for a sustainable living. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way urban spaces are built and managed.

Sustainable Development Goals, initiated in 2015, are UN targets for dignity, peace and prosperity for the planet and humankind to be completed by 2030. Goal-11 of the SDGs is about making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way urban spaces are built and managed.

The goal definition says that cities should ensure access to safe and affordable housing, public transportation and public green spaces. It primarily focuses on the roles and responsibilities of governments, initiatives taken by communities and the part played by individual citizens. To achieve the goal of urban sustainability, effective leadership, coordinated partnerships, public and private investments, effective implementation, and good governance are the key components to be strengthened.

Pakistan is among the most urbanised countries in South Asia. With an urban population growing at three percent per year, Pakistanis are flocking to cities faster than any other country in South Asia. By 2030, more than half of the population is projected to live in cities. Pakistan’s cities contribute much less to the economy compared to other developing countries. The main drivers of Pakistan’s urban growth are high birth rates and migration from rural areas. Migrants are attracted to cities for better jobs and improved access to basic services.

The urbanisation has enlarged Pakistan’s biggest cities so rapidly that they struggle to deliver public services and create productive jobs. Urban poverty is on the rise, with one in eight urban dwellers living below the poverty line. Lack of clean drinking water remains a major contributor to the high mortality rate of children under five years old. According to Save the Children’s 2015 Annual Report, poor urban children in Pakistan are more likely to die young than rural children.

In Pakistan, migration and urbanisation have had strong effects on the economy and infrastructure development, changes in labour market opportunities, family structures, education and health, availability of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, environment management, security systems and good governance. Around 36 percent of population still does not have access to safe drinking water.

Although urban areas have higher student enrollment and better learning outcomes, close to 10 percent of all children in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar remain out of school. Like healthcare, better education in cities is delivered by the private sector. From 2001 to 2014, the share of primary enrollment in urban private schools rose from 25 percent to 40 percent.

Urbanisation is a global phenomenon that transforms our world and brings both positive and negative impacts to communities. Making sustainable urban development a reality is critical for ensuring cities can provide for their growing population and tackle environmental challenges.

António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said in his message for the Day, “Cities are engines of economic growth and innovation that hold the key to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“They are also on the front lines of today’s complex challenges, from the climate crisis to growing inequalities and political polarisation. Governments, international organisations, the private sector and civil society must work together to mobilise finance for resilient, sustainable cities. I am a strong advocate for equitable financing solutions at the global level.

“These must be used, together with innovative and diverse funding sources, to strengthen local financing strategies that are climate-friendly, inclusive and equitable.”

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