Reimagining Urban Growth: The Need for More Urban Centers in Balochistan

Abstract

This research underscores the urgent need for several urban centers across Balochistan. Shifting the focus away from Quetta the only urban hub of the province. Even as Quetta struggles with issues of dearth of education facilities, water scarcity, meagre health facilities, high unemployment, insufficient housing, traffic congestion as well as poor drainage systems, the development burden is compounded by the absence of any other developed urban centers to play the counterpart. As a result, the Quetta Metropolitan government fails to fulfill the province growing demands. This paper recommends the establishment of more urban centers in Balochistan and suggest the potential cities such as Turbat, Khuzdar, Loralai, Chaman, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, and Gwadar. Using the Human Settlement Model and Sustainable Development Model, it aims to make these places urban centers that can spread the resources and opportunities more equally. As a means to reduce disparity across the province, Balochistan can promote socio economic progress by changing the structure of urban development. Through qualitative study the research takes advantage of the data collected from local representatives and the secondary sources such as books, research journals and media articles to analyze root causes of underinvestment. This paper clearly emphasizes the significance of giving priority to urban expansion for promoting inclusive growth and in general addressing the developmental challenges of Balochistan.