Abstract

Sindh, Pakistan’s second largest province with 30.44M inhabitants has always been the country’s most urbanized region; but its urban population is un-evenly distributed – i.e. 71% concentrating in only three major cities. In addition, Sindh is most industrialized and resourceful in terms of expended natural resources - contributing highest national revenue, yet getting only 23.28% in national revenue transfer; reflecting exploitative policies; in return providing insufficient compensation to supplement the privations.

Recent IUCN reports identify mismanagement of natural resources as a major cause for growing socio-economic disparity, poverty alleviation and urban-rural divide in the region. Seeds of these problems are accredited to colonial period changes; further worsened by latter 20^th century developments transforming the landscape.  Lack of participatory community involvement in development processes and disregard for existing built fabric has resulted in loss of unique historic environments; requiring recognition as invaluable regional resources. This paper seeks to instigate a consciousness towards significance of historic urban centers, identify directions to reinstate their value as historic, economic and environmental assets, and gauge their potentials for revival; restructuring a balanced and sustained urbanization in the region.

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