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Pakistani Activist, Planner and Architect Arif Hasan Speaks at AKU-ISMC Lunch Hour Seminar
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Pakistani architect, activist and planner Arif Hasan and AKU-ISMC Professor Modjtaba Sadria. |
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On 22nd April, as part of AKU-ISMC’s lunch hour seminar series, prominent Pakistani architect, planner and development activist Arif Hasan discussed the process of socio-economic development in Pakistan with particular attention to the revolutionary changes that have taken place over the past 60 years.
Hasan outlined six major factors which have influenced the process of socioeconomic change in Pakistan, noting that although these changes have not been institutionalised through politics, they have radically re-shaped Pakistani society.
“There are various factors which have led to these changes and they are all interconnected… One is the migration from India [following partition in 1947]; second is the introduction of ‘green revolution’ technologies and Middle East migration; third is urbanisation; fourth is Islamisation… and the Afghan war; five is globalisation and structural adjustment, and last is President Musharraf’s devolution.”
Speaking about the impact of partition, Hasan noted that according to the 1951 census, a large proportion of the urban population of Pakistan had originally migrated from India. This migration greatly changed the socio-economic and political landscape of Pakistan.
“Something that is overlooked is the fact that over 48% of the urban population in Pakistan originated in India. And 82% of this population settled in the Punjab, the rest settled in Sindh. Many of these cities’ populations more than doubled in a brief period of three years.”
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Hasan outlined six major factors which have influenced the process of socioeconomic change in Pakistan. |
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Hasan also noted that in some regions there was a rapid depopulation following partition from India, due to the fact that generally, the Sikh and Hindu population were forced to move away. This enormous population shift had decisive social and economic consequences for Pakistan.
During the period following partition, Hasan explained, traditional social ties such as the link between class and career, and the political strength of local interest groups became obsolete. In addition, the conflict between migrants and the original inhabitants had strong physical and economic implications.
Hasan noted that an important physical impact was that vacated Hindu temples were occupied as residential buildings, especially in the Punjab. In the inner cities the new migrants were poor in comparison to those who had just left. Consequently, seven or eight families lived in a house that had previously housed only one. Hasan explained that this situation contributed to a dramatic change in the entire inner-city culture.
Speaking of the impact of the ‘green revolution’ on socio-economic development, Hasan argued that pesticides and other farming technologies entered rural areas on a large scale, causing fundamental changes to production processes. Before the ‘green revolution’, Hasan explained, agricultural operation was organised and financed by feudal institutions. These feudal institutions built and maintained agricultural infrastructure that catered to community lands.
“With the green revolution technologies… came pesticide agencies, fertiliser agencies, mechanisation, oil companies… which all required government loans… so a new middle class emerged, with very strong links to the urban areas, and middle-men emerged to give loans to the smaller producers.”
Small producers were unable to manage their businesses and rapidly incurred debts to those who financed their operations. In addition, the geographical shift of markets from small towns to major urban centres meant that small producers were dependent on others to provide transport, leaving them in a position where their very access to markets was controlled by external actors.
Regarding the influence of urbanisation, Hasan said that up to 80% of the Pakistani population now lives in what can be defined as an urban area. This urbanisation has not been well managed, with a general lack of social housing, adequate public infrastructure and public facilities.
“The most serious issue is housing. The demand in the urban areas is around 400,000 housing units per year. We supply, through the formal sector, no more than 170,000 to 180,000 units. As a result, over 70% of urban Pakistanis live in informal settlements.”
In addition to his comments on urban and economic changes, Hasan spoke about political and social changes in Pakistan, particularly the Islamisation of Pakistani society and the effects of globalisation, both positive and negative.
Hasan explained that a number of changes were implemented as a result of Islamisation. These included the introduction of compulsory prayers on Friday, banning of political and extra-curricular activities at universities and discontinuation of the teaching of world history and geography at school.
During this time, Hasan reflected, the mosque became the ‘guardian’ of local morality, and, more importantly, the participation of the ‘elite’ segment of society in public life was gradually eroded. Most spaces that had allowed for multi-class interaction in Karachi essentially disappeared.
Globalisation and structural adjustment have brought both positive and negative changes to Pakistani society, Hasan argued. Among the benefits has been the development of new industries and jobs. Globalisation has also brought about skills shortages in key occupations, enhanced and influenced by a lack of educational facilities.
Hasan concluded by remarking that increase in the value of land due to speculation by foreign investors has led to inequitable and poorly defined urban planning. This has resulted in development which does not sufficiently consider the needs of the urban poor.
After the seminar, Hasan participated in a discussion with graduate students, faculty and guests about use of religion in society, corruption in government and changes in culture in developing countries.
Audio*
- To listen to a recording (wma) of the seminar, please click here.
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Online Resources***
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