Public Space and City Functions A Case Study of Historic Rawalpindi

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Cover image: Aerial view of Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Arto Marttinen on Unsplash.
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Published: Dec 31, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32891/jps.v8i1.1485
Keywords:
public space city functions Rawalpindi historic city center socio-economic role political functions

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Samna Sadaf Khan
Independent researcher
Muhammad Naveed Iftikhar
atomcamp
Shua Khalid
Daftarkhwan

Abstract

The study explores how public spaces contribute to a city's core functions—economic, social, and political—through a conceptual framework that positions public spaces as central. However, focusing solely on these typologies may not fully address the complexities of contemporary cities. The framework is a starting point to discuss this correlation in a South Asian context.
Drawing lessons from various public spaces in cities across the world, the research carries out an in-depth analysis of the public space of Raja Bazaar, a historical market in the centre of Rawalpindi city. Raja Bazaar is a shared street with pedestrian and vehicular movement, fulfilling its role as a trading centre for the city. It has a lot more potential in its unrecognized heritage, food industry, and local crafts which is currently lost in urban challenges. Urban mobility has recently dominated the public space, consequently, suppressing the social function of the street especially for the residents. The political functions and religious festivities still thrive with temporary pedestrianization, pop-up activity and space appropriation at particular times of the year. The study also finds the positive impact of community’s ownership of public spaces. However, even the community engagement and mobilization have limitations in the absence of well-functioning local governments–a major lesson learnt during the implementation of public space revitalization initiatives in Raja Bazar. 
Recognizing the complex nature of city functions and the diverse characterization of public spaces, the conceptual framework developed under this study needs further investigation through comparative analysis of its application in different neighbourhoods and regions.

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How to Cite
Khan, S. S., Iftikhar, M. N. and Khalid, S. (2023) “Public Space and City Functions: A Case Study of Historic Rawalpindi”, The Journal of Public Space, 8(1), pp. 69–92. doi: 10.32891/jps.v8i1.1485.
Issue
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2023): Research Perspectives
Section
Articles
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Author Biographies

Samna Sadaf Khan, Independent researcher

Samna Sadaf Khan is an architect and urban researcher. She graduated as an architect from National University of Science & Technology, Pakistan in 2016 with a President’s Gold model. Further, Samna obtained her MSc in Urban Management and Developing from Erasmus University, Rotterdam in 2019 as an Orange Knowledge Program fellow. Her specialisation track in masters was Housing and Social Justice where she explored the adequacy of Rental Housing in a neighbourhood of Pakistan. Professionally, Samna has served as an Urban Strategy Specialist, where she has been involved in projects related to urban regeneration, heritage conservation, non-motorized mobility, and the accessibility of public spaces. She has extensive experience of qualitative research methods and ethnic studies. Samna also gained technical experience in the role of an Urban Planner, which involved analysing geo-spatial data and population forecasting etc. for developing Master plans for city administrations in Pakistan. Her educational and professional training have revolved around interdisciplinary and collaborative planning approaches for sustainable and inclusive cities. She integrates the visual skillset of an architect with the analytical frameworks of an urban planner in the representation of her work. She has been involved in research and professional planning projects side by side.

Muhammad Naveed Iftikhar, atomcamp

Muhammad Naveed Iftikhar is Cofounder at atomcamp, an EdTech Platform. His research and policy work is focused on urban management, economic development and digital upskilling. Naveed has been supporting city governments in many regions in undertaking inclusive and sustainable city management holds an M.Phil. in Economics and a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy & Administration with a focus on urban economics and technology entrepreneurship.

Shua Khalid, Daftarkhwan

Ms. Khalid is an analyst with a passion for leveraging data for social and economic development. She holds a Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis and Economic Development from Indiana University Bloomington (Fulbright Scholar) and a Bachelor of Science in Management Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Currently, Ms. Khalid serves as the Analytics Manager at Daftarkhwan, a co-working space company in Pakistan. There, she established the Analytics department and uses data to drive strategic decision-making, assess impact, and improve efficiency across all departments. Previously, she co-founded Atomcamp, an EdTech platform and Wecamp, a platform for upskilling and empowering home-based women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Ms. Khalid is also a published researcher, having co-authored a peer-reviewed paper on urban resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research interests lie in the intersection of data analytics, public policy, economic development, and gender empowerment.

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