Understanding the Cities of Pakistan
Diversity of Pakistan Pakistan is land of rich diversity. The geography is extreme, with the north consisting of snow-capped mountains and the south being a coastline. And the languages, the people, the traditions, and its cities do, too. And here is quite a frequently asked question how many cities in Pakistan? Seems like an easy question, but it actually unlocks a door to an understanding of how the country is organized.
Administrative Structure of Pakistan
Pakistan is divided into 4 provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan. Two self-governing territories are Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and one federal territory, the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Well when we talk about the number of cities in Pakistan, it really depends how you define a “city”. Disintegrating recognition of all cities, there are more than 150 cities of Pakistan. More than 80 cities are urban. But if we look the towns and municipalities and these large sparkly villages as well as the ones we got from counting, we often get 500+ urban centres.
Major Cities by Population
Some of the Pakistani cities are recognized in the world because of their much greater population, economy or history. Here’s a brief rundown of the largest:
| City | Population (Approx.) | Province |
| Karachi | 20 million+ | Sindh |
| Lahore | 13 million+ | Punjab |
| Faisalabad | 3.5 million+ | Punjab |
| Rawalpindi | 2.1 million+ | Punjab |
| Peshawar | 2.0 million+ | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Quetta | 1.2 million | Balochistan |
| Islamabad | 1.1 million | Capital Territory |
In these towns are found the colleges and business and government centers. When someone inquires about how many cities in Pakistan, these are the big cities that generally pop into your head first. But there are dozens of other smaller and midsize cities that are critical to the country’s growth just beyond them.
Urban Growth in Pakistan
The fast pace of urbanization in Pak-istan. Most of the peoples are moving to the cities for work, education, and quality of life. This has led to the expansion of the floor space area and the emergence of new communities. As per recent estimates, the urban population in Pakistan is close to around 39 per cent of its total population, and it’s growing every year.
This expansion presents opportunities as well as strains. On one hand, new businesses and services are coming up. On the other, cities are facing pressure on housing, transport, and utilities. Knowing how many cities are in Pakistan gives us a sense of the scale of urban planning needed to handle this growth.
Government Classification of Cities
Cities across the country are divided into the head of government officials according to the population, infrastructure, and the income of the city. For example:
- Metropolitan Cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad as center of national administration & international trade.
- Large Cities: Major cities accessible by road include Gujranwala and Hyderabad, all of which have populations exceeding 1 million.
- Medium Cities: 200,000 to 1 million inhabitants.
- Small Cities and Towns: Less than 200,000 people
You might thus consider that how many cities in Pakistan is a straightforward question but the answer is the complete description of the entire process.
Regional Breakdown
The number of cities and towns varies per province:
- Punjab: The largest province by population, and has the most cities, over 110 cities.
- Sindh: 40 cities, which includes Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 35 cities, among them Peshawar, Abbottabad and Mardan.
- Balochistan: Fewer cities (around 20 only) due to its size which are however, scattered within a few miles of each other due to the nature of its sparsely distributed population.
- Gilgit-Baltistan & AJK: These all are small cities, including Gilgit, Skardu, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur.
Conclusion
So, How many cities are there in Pakistan? Pakistan hasn’t even had a real census in more than two decades, and the numbers vary, but the most trusted count is that there are somewhere around 150 cities on official record in Pakistan, and more than 500 urban areas.
To understand inner working of Pakistani cities is not only a geography but also a pattern of population growth, economic growth and development. If you are planning to relocate, invest or want to know simply, learning about the various cities of Pakistan is always worthwhile.
FAQ’s
How many official cities are there in Pakistan?
There are more than 150 officially termed cities in Pakistan.
Which province has the most cities in Pakistan?
The province of Punjab administers most of the cities in the country, with 110 towns in that specific province.
Is Islamabad counted as a city in Pakistan?
Yes, Islamabad is the federal capital and is dubbed as a city in Pakistan.
Are towns and tehsils also considered cities?
No, towns and tehsils are distinct from cities and are not defined as such by the government.
How fast is urbanization growing in Pakistan?
The urban population of Pakistan is rapidly increasing and now accounts for about 40% of the total population.