Urban Informality, Smart-City Interventions, and Spatial Justice Perceptions among Informal Settlement Residents in Major Pakistani Cities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65761/jssp.2026.167Keywords:
Urban informality, Smart cities, Spatial justice, Informal settlements, Urban governance, Sustainable urban developmentAbstract
Background: Rapid urbanization has expanded informal settlements in developing countries, where inadequate services, insecure housing, and limited participation in governance remain persistent challenges. Although smart-city initiatives aim to improve urban efficiency and service delivery, their implications for equity and spatial justice among marginalized communities remain insufficiently understood.
Objective: To examine the relationship between urban informality, smart-city interventions, and spatial justice perceptions among informal settlement residents in major Pakistani cities.
Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 512 residents of informal settlements in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad–Rawalpindi, and Peshawar using purposive and snowball sampling. Structured questionnaires assessed demographics, service access, digital connectivity, smart-city awareness, spatial justice perceptions, displacement concerns, and trust in governance. Additionally, 21 key informant interviews and secondary data from municipal reports, smart-city plans, media sources, and urban datasets were analyzed. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, t-tests/ANOVA, and multiple regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.
Results: Perceived spatial justice was generally low, particularly regarding procedural justice and participation. Only 41.8% of respondents were aware of smart-city initiatives, and fewer than 11% had participated in planning consultations. Most participants perceived displacement risks, while 75.6% believed smart-city projects primarily benefited wealthier areas. Spatial justice perceptions were positively associated with service access, smart-city awareness, internet access, and income, but negatively associated with displacement concerns (all p<0.001). Qualitative findings emphasized exclusion, inadequate recognition, and demands for participatory planning.
Conclusion: Inclusive smart-city development requires equitable services, secure housing, digital inclusion, and meaningful community participation to strengthen spatial justice.
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