Urban Planning & Development Department

Urban Planning is considered all over the world as a necessary function of public sector planning and development agencies, and it cannot achieve its goals and objectives in isolation. In absence of exercising the urban planning functions at Government level, the decay of human settlements may occur that creates a sense of injustice among the society members. Further it makes the situation more complicated for management of towns by the public authorities.

The Government of Balochistan is exercising the urban planning functions through Urban Planning & Development Department for the development of sustainable urban settlements in the province in compliance of Goal No. 11 of Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Since the urban planning is a dynamic process hence it cannot achieve its goals and objective in absence of a well-designed, coordinated and integrated approach. All the stake holders including the Government Departments, public and private institutions, academia and general public need to be involved in the planning process.

I hope that the urban Planning and Development Department will lead the development of sustainable urban settlements in the province through preparation and implementation of master plans as per its vision and future endeavors.

Urban planning is an activity for managing the use of land and environmental changes, for making provision of community facilities and services, enhancement of environment including transportation as well as for balanced use of land and adequate housing developments.

The urban planning has long been neglected in Balochistan after the independence. During the course of time, various urban problems have been emerged in towns of the province, such as uneven and chaotic development of the towns, development of squatter and slum settlements, inadequate availability of water supply and sanitation facilities to the population, degradation of environment, congestion in the city centers, high land prices, congested transport networks, inadequate health, education and other social facilities for the concerned urban population, difficult management of the settlements for the public authorities etc.

Urban Planning & Development Department was established in year 2008 to take care of long neglected issues of Urban Planning, Development and Management of the urban areas of the Province.

Currently, the Urban Planning & Development Department is engaged in preparation of Master Plans of more than 30 major cities/towns including the capital of Balochistan through its attached arms/subordinate offices i.e. Directorate of Works and Quetta Development Authority (QDA). This activity is supposed to be completed within a period of one year and will provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap for a planned and controlled development and management of major urban settlement of the province.

It is expected that masses of the Balochistan province will be provided with better living facilities and the government authorities will be able to manage the growth of towns in an efficient, effective and economical manner which is a dire need of the time.