Graana.com, IIPS host open debate on ‘PCATP Elections 2021; Policy and Institutional issues related to Digital Revolution & Contemporary Urban Planning’

On the occasion of the election of the President and Vice president of Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP), Graana.com in collaboration with the Iqbal Institute of Policy Studies (IIPS) hosted an open debate on ‘PCATP Elections 2021; Policy and Institutional issues related to Digital Revolution & Contemporary Urban Planning’.

The event attended by Chairman Imarat Group of Companies Mr. Shafiq Akbar, President Advisory Board IIPS Lt. Gen (Retd) Haroon Aslam, Group Directors Mr. Farhan Javed, Mr. Shharjeel E. Ahmer, Mr. Arslan Javed and Taimoor Abbasi was aimed at creating awareness regarding planning at national, provincial and district level amongst the town planners of Pakistan.

Various notable personalities also attended the event, where the policy and institutional issues related to the digital revolution and contemporary urban planning were discussed.

The speakers of the debate included different town planners and existing leadership of PCTAP, namely plannedr Kadeer ul Hasnain (Development Sector Expert) and Planner Ume Laila Naqvi (Director LG and CD) moderated the debate. The guest speakers included various planners like Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu (VC PCATP), Planner Khuram Farid Bargatt (VC PCATP), Plnr. Abdul Waheed (Candidate EM PCATP Balochistan), Plnr. Fahad Ahmad Sheikh (Candidate EM PCATP Sindh), Plnr. SH. Nisar Ahmad (Public Sector TP Sindh), Plnr.Nadir Ali Shah (Candidate EM PCATP KPK), Plnr. Shareef Hussain (Private Sector TP FA), Plnr. Mubashir Hussain (Candidate EM PCATP Punjab), Plnr, Ahmad Masud (Candidate EM PCATP Punjab), Plnr. Muhammad Imran Shakir (Candidate EM PCATP Punjab), Plnr. Syed Rizwan Muneer (Candidate EM PCATP Punjab), Plnr. Atif Mehmood (Candidate EM PCATP Punjab), Plnr. Abdul Rehman (Public Sector TP Punjab) and  Plnr. Syed Mubashir Gillani (Public Sector TP AJK).

Urban Planning is a central tenet of city-life as urban areas continue to be hubs of commercial and economic activity. The cities of Pakistan are also on the road towards digital advancement as foreign investments increase. China Pakistan Economic Corridor has created an investment environment that will improve connectivity through infrastructure and digital advances. This digital infrastructure is important for a well-connected urban infrastructure that will facilitate the development of much needed sustainable cities. As the population of Pakistani cities grows, a smart city approach is needed to meet the urban demands of the growing population.