Urban Planning In The 21st Century.

Global warming is an existential threat that directly impacts the entire world population. Due to uncontrollable defects of global warming, it is feared that it can risk the global economy as well as sinking entire cities like Karachi and Miami due to rising sea levels and cyclones. It poses multifaceted problems ranging from geopolitical to aggravated economic issues. Urban planning is the sustainable way forward as the urbanized population of Pakistan is rising at a rapid pace. Urban planning includes technological innovation, sustainable development, and modern techniques to develop and sustain metropolitan cities in efficient ways.

Pakistan needs to leapfrog to new technology and management methods in urban planning for sustainable growth and countering the ominous threats of global warming. The first area which is under discussion in urban planning is the Modern Biophilic Design City. Organic architecture in urbanism helps to decrease carbon dioxide emissions. In the Chinese city of Liuzhou, about 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 57 tons of micro-particles were avoided by the introduction of Biophilic Design. This design in urbanized communities stressed the natural architecture and natural environment in the congested mega malls and commercial areas. Stephen R.Kellert in his book 'Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practicing of Bringing Buildings to Life' argued that fostering beneficial interaction between people and nature in modern building landscapes reduced the anxiety level and increased creativity levels in modern urbanized communities. The Biophilic City Design facilitates the horizontal growth of urbanism and nature together.

The second point in sustainable urban planning is the Sponge City Model, which was introduced by Chinese researchers to manage the ecological infrastructure and drainage systems. The Sponge City Model can help to reduce urban flooding by up to 90 percent. The Sponge Model helps absorb the storm water and then release it like a sponge after purifying it. The released water can then be used for various purposes like agriculture and the construction of underground water tanks. During the monsoon season, a lot of people lose their lives and a lot of infrastructural damage take place in the mega cities of Pakistan. Karachi is more vulnerable to urban flooding due to rising sea levels and irregular weather conditions. The Sponge Model helps to prevent the excessive use of plastic pipes and channels...