Karachi is projected to become the world’s 5th largest city by 2050 — UN estimates.

The chart below shows how Pakistan’s major urban centres have expanded since 1975.

And the transformation is remarkable.

For many, rapid population growth is seen only as a problem — pressure on infrastructure, public services, housing, and the environment.

But there is another way to interpret this story:

Cities grow because economies grow.
People move to cities because opportunity moves to cities.
Urban expansion is often a sign of national progress.

Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar — all have multiplied in size because Pakistan has urbanised at a pace faster than most countries at similar income levels.

Urbanisation brings challenges, but also possibilities:
More productive jobs
Larger markets for businesses
Better access to health and education
Faster diffusion of technology and ideas
Stronger engines for national GDP growth

If managed well, Pakistan’s expanding cities can become an asset — not a liability.