Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) has recommended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to build resilient and inclusive cities for future socio-economic growth in Peshawar, Mardan and Abbottabad.
The key recommendations were presented at the community consultation workshops involving different stakeholder groups from various cities. The CDIA is funded by the government of Germany, in additional to core funding support from the governments of Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and the Shanghai Municipal Government as well as the Asian Development Bank.
CDIA is supporting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in preparing 15-year City Development Plans (CDPs) for the cities of Peshawar, Mardan and Abbottabad. The CDIA is preparing the plans in close coordination with the Urban Policy and Planning Unit (UPPU), Planning and Development Department, government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The recommendations reflect the vision of citizens of their respective cities. Citizens also presented a priority list for investments that cities should consider to inculcate future resilience, inclusion and opportunities, including job creation. The list indicates areas of investment to ensure improved quality life for all city residents, including the vulnerable.
According to the recommendations, making the cities green and clean is the dire need of hour. The residents of Peshawar wanted to see more ‘smart-city’ investments. They want Peshawar to be a trade gateway with growing knowledge-based sectors, which would also promote women participation. They also wanted to promote national heritage to increase the cultural diversity and permeate tolerance in the city.
Promoting tourism was also a key vision among the city residents of Abbottabad. They wanted Abbottabad to become a tourism hub of Pakistan and a preferred city to live and work in. They also envisaged their city to be a well-managed, lively and appealing city by creating peace, greenery, prosperity and well-managed municipal services.
The citizens of Mardan highlighted the importance of ensuring sustainable ecosystems. This includes restoring natural systems such as forests, rivers and vegetation. Through a holistic management of solid waste, sewerage and waste water, they dreamed Mardan being revived from ecological degradation.
Mardan residents also wanted to include affordable, safe and inclusive public transportation system as a part of their growth plans. They also underlined the importance of strengthening the service delivery systems that must be followed by the municipality with full vigour. Providing affordable health care and equal educational services was also given as an investment priority. Stakeholders also expressed the need to create equal employment opportunities for all.
KP Planning and Development Department Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan said “Consultations with stakeholders is an important part of our planning and development process. Our aim is to increase transparency in our work and get insights into issues, which directly impact the local communities. These insights will pave way for preparing investment priorities which are much needed by the people. By working together with all key stakeholders, the government aims to build trust and consensus. This will also lead to better decision making and effective outcomes.”
KP CDIA’s Neil Chadder informed that CDIA’s technical support aims to structure priority investment projects that would promote urban development in the province.
The consultation workshops were organized by the CDIA with support from the Urban Policy Unit, Planning and Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
