President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol has called for integrated and sustainable urban and regional planning to address Pakistan’s growing transportation challenges, improve mobility, and support cities that can contribute to economic growth, investment, and a better quality of life. He made the remarks while chairing an international seminar titled “The General Situation of Transportation, Urban and Regional Planning in Pakistan and a Sustainable Way Forward,” jointly organized by the Institute of Planners Pakistan (IPP) and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the LCCI.
The seminar brought together planning professionals, policymakers, academics, and international experts to discuss transportation and urban development challenges facing Pakistan. President IPP Umar Farooq and international speakers also participated in the event. Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol said rapid urbanization was placing increasing pressure on cities across the country, particularly through rising traffic congestion, inadequate public transport facilities, limited parking, poor walkability, infrastructure constraints, and challenges in accessing essential services. He stressed that these issues require planning approaches that address the interconnected needs of growing urban populations rather than relying on short-term measures.
The LCCI President emphasized that urban planning should move beyond temporary solutions and adopt integrated approaches that bring transportation, land use, housing, commerce, industry, and environmental sustainability into a coordinated planning framework. According to him, effective urban and regional planning is important for creating cities that can accommodate economic activity while improving mobility and the quality of life for residents. The discussions at the seminar focused on identifying approaches that can help Pakistan respond to its changing urban environment and develop transportation systems capable of supporting future growth.
Institute of Planners Pakistan President Umar Farooq highlighted the importance of bringing national and international planning experts together to examine Pakistan’s transportation and urban development challenges. He said such discussions can help identify sustainable solutions and provide opportunities to learn from planning practices and experiences from different parts of the world. International experts at the seminar shared perspectives on transportation planning, travel demand forecasting, community resilience, and regional trade connectivity, providing a wider view of the issues affecting transportation systems and urban development.
Healah Darman, International Vice President of the Institute of Transportation Engineers 2026 and International President-elect for 2027 from the United States, spoke about global perspectives and practices in transportation planning. Robert G. Schiffer, AICP, President of Plan-Plan Consulting in the United States, discussed enhanced travel forecasting for long-range transportation planning. Dennis J. Smith, FACIP, Planner-in-Residence at Florida State University and associated with Ferris State University’s planning research initiatives, addressed emerging tools for community resilience in transportation planning. Their contributions focused on planning methods and tools that can support more effective responses to transportation challenges over the long term.
The seminar also covered regional trade and the impact of developments affecting transportation and connectivity. E. Khong Kie Max, Founder and Principal Consultant of SC&M Group in Singapore, discussed the impact of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border closure and resulting trade diversion in the region. MPA Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee at the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), spoke about transport governance and planning challenges in Pakistan’s cities. Chief Metropolitan Planner LDA Faisal Masood discussed the Lahore Master Plan 2050, highlighting planning considerations for the future development of Lahore.
Dr. Obaidullah Nadeem, Professor and Chairman of the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, delivered the keynote address on reimagining Pakistan’s urban future and the changing role of urban planners. The range of topics discussed at the seminar reflected the need for coordinated planning across transportation, urban development, governance, infrastructure, and regional connectivity. The discussions reinforced the call for sustainable and integrated planning approaches that can help Pakistan’s cities manage increasing urban pressures while supporting economic activity, investment, mobility, and improved living standards.
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