The Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue (IRD) in collaboration with the Department of Sociology, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) organized a seminar on Growing Urbanization and Its Social Impacts on Pakistani Society at the Allama Iqbal Auditorium Faisal Masjid Campus.
Panelists of the seminar included Arif Hassan, renowned, architect, planner, social researcher and writer, Dr Imdad Hussain, Director, Punjab Urban Resource Center, Lahore, Dr Imran Sabir, Associate Professor, 
Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad and Prof Dr Irfan Khan, International Islamic University Islamabad. Panelists of the seminar discussed that Pakistan is one of the fastest urbanizing nations in South Asia with an average annual growth rate of 2.7%. Rapid urbanization is contributing to various issues such as increasing cost of transportation, transformation of social structures, global warming and climate change. It also causes housing problems, water and sanitation problems, traffic congestion and, health issues.
The speakers expressed that resources shortages, overcrowding, poverty rates, unemployment, and a loss of social services and education are all common causes of social issues such as violence, drug misuse, and crime. Murder, rape, abduction, rioting, assault, theft and burglary are among crimes that are considered to be more prevalent in metropolitan areas. Furthermore, poverty-related crimes are most prevalent in fast-growing metropolitan areas. The calm and tranquility of cities/towns are usually disrupted by these acts of urban crime. They viewed urbanization as a multi-dimensional process that also leaves impacts on the migrants’ beliefs, perceptions, lifestyle, attitudes and behavior patterns.
Speakers of the seminar also opined that the government should play a more prominent role in promoting sustainable urbanization creating a nationwide urbanization strategy that includes urban planning, institutional reforms and financing. It also needs to see that urbanization proceeds in a systematic and smooth manner.
In the end, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irfan Khan (Chair) thanked all the guests and participants and lauded the efforts of the IRD and the Department of Sociology for highlighting such an important issue pertaining to Pakistani society.