Internal Migration and Urbanization: A Case Study from Semi-arid Regions of Pakistan
Siyal, Ghamz E Ali; Khalid, Imran; Qaisrani, Ayesha | March 2018
Abstract
The study analyses the determinants of urbanization in semi-arid regions and the role of institutions in dealing with the issue. Focusing mainly on three semi-arid districts of Pakistan, i.e. Mardan, Faisalabad, and Dera Ghazi Khan (D.G Khan), the study draws on qualitative information gathered through the in-depth interviews of rural to urban migrants and key stakeholders. The push factors described by majority of urban respondents in all three districts are mainly economic, i.e. lack of employment and business opportunities in rural areas. Few respondents considered death of family members/relatives, conflict with other tribes and lack of health facilities as significant push factors behind their decision of migration. Although socio-economic factors were the primary cause of migration, climate change was not considered a direct reason. Nevertheless, a few respondents agreed that climate change had indirect effect on their decision to migrate. The pull factors are almost common in all three districts. These include better employment opportunities, proximity to their village and access to basic facilities such as educational institutions, hospitals, road and transport networks, sanitation amenities, etc. in the cities. The urban migrants faced a number of issues as a result of their migration particularly in terms of lack of proper accommodation, inaccessibility to clean drinking water, guarantor issues, finding employment or setting up business, and lack of information about public services. This has further exacerbated the situation vis-à-vis congestion of the cities as well as an increase in slum settlements. According to development authorities, major reasons for unplanned urbanization and slums creation were lack of internal migration monitoring policy and coordination gaps between service providers and authorities concerned. Furthermore, stakeholders emphasized the need for immediate attention for overall agriculture sector development, including climate resilient and agriculture smart policies to lower the push factors of migration in rural areas.
Citation
Siyal, Ghamz E Ali; Khalid, Imran; Qaisrani, Ayesha. 2018. Internal Migration and Urbanization: A Case Study from Semi-arid Regions of Pakistan. © Sustainable Development Policy Institute. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/8146.Keywords
Alleviating Poverty
Anti-Poverty
Extreme Poverty
Fight Against Poverty
Global Poverty
Health Aspects Of Poverty
Indicators Of Poverty
Participatory Poverty Assessment
Poverty Eradication
Poverty Analysis
Poverty In Developing Countries
Poverty Reduction Efforts
Urban Poverty
Urbanization
Urban Services
Urban Projects
Urban Problems
Urban Poverty
Urban Policy
Urban Planning
Urban Infrastructure
Urban Health
Urban Government
Urban Economic Development
Urban Development Finance
Urban Development
Urban Conditions
Urban Communities
Urban Population
Development Indicators
Environmental Indicators
Economic Indicators
Educational Indicators
Demographic Indicators
Health Indicators
Disadvantaged Groups
Low Income Groups
Socially Disadvantaged Children
Rural Conditions
Rural Development
Social Conditions
Urban Development
Urban Sociology
Urban Plans
Urbanism
Urban agriculture
Economic Development
Rural Urban Migration
Cities
Migration
Poor
Economic forecasting
Health expectancy
Social groups
Political participation
Distribution of income
Inequality of income
Developing countries
Rural community development
Mass society
Social change
Social policy
Social stability
Population
Sustainable development
Peasantry
Urban policy
Urban renewal
Local government
Urban renewal
Urban housing
Urban sociology
Transit systems
Rapid transit
Public transit
Mass transit
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