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Urbanization is giving rise to the number of challenges due to its matchless soaring proportion in scenario of management and public welfare. Difference types of buffers are utilized globally depending upon the area of action and purpose to protect development sites from external harms and to avoid factors resulting inequalities from outer boundaries, for instance population growth and development. Effects of urbanization on urban fringes and the land use changes have been conducted for their inter-relation purposiveness to maintain fringes approaching buffer. In this context, this paper studies the different types of buffers to identify their necessity and implications for exploring the appropriate buffer as a conservation approach. In order to deal with the urban boundaries of Hyderabad (delineation of urban fringes), the conversion of agriculture land into residential area due to urbanization have been analyzed. Sample questionnaire survey and analysis were conducted using ANOVA with the help of SPSS 20.0, Arc GIS 10.1 based maps. Resultantly, our findings open new dimension in understanding the buffers implementations on the basis of ANOVA testing observation. To conclude this analysis, it is observed that riparian tree buffer is strongly suggested in comparison with other employed types of buffers for designing land use plans.

Rural subregions of the developing countries are suffering from many physical and socioeconomic problems, including scarcity of basic education institutions. The shortage of education institutions extended distance between rural localities and education institutions. Hence, to curb this problem, this research is aimed to deal with the basic education institution's shortage, according to available local standards and demographic features. This is an attempt to lower down the distance between the rural population and basic education institutions. Data were collected through interviews, field visits and from the concerned authorities of the study area. The basic education institution's shortage is determined up to the year 2035, which could help in formulating education policy plans. It is expected that local people's accessibility towards rural education institutions can be increased, which may put a positive impact on the declining literacy rate of a rural population.

In the modern dialogue of urban planning, social sustainability emerges as a crucial focus, especially in swiftly expanding cities like Hyderabad, Pakistan. Despite its importance, social sustainability is frequently overlooked, particularly in developing regions. This research examines the planning frameworks shaping socially sustainable residential areas in Qasimabad Taluka, Hyderabad City. Once lush farmland, Qasimabad has swiftly transformed into residential sectors. This transition has led to declining living standards and weakened social sustainability metrics. Through meticulous analysis, this study evaluates the community engagement, inclusivity and accessibility, social cohesion and safety, and facilities and amenities factors of social sustainability in the residential neighborhoods of Qasimabad Taluka using field visits and a comprehensive questionnaire survey with a sample size of 307 adopting cluster and quota sampling techniques. Data analysis with SPSS-22, supported by reliability, exploratory factor analysis, and Yeh's satisfaction index model reveals key elements such as community accessibility, safety, green spaces, and aesthetic appeal. The findings reveal deteriorating infrastructure in Qasimabad, emphasizing the necessity for substantial interventions in infrastructure development, public space revitalization, and the cultivation of civic consciousness. Addressing these issues is vital for fostering neighborhoods that are both livable and socially cohesive. By shedding light on these critical needs, urban planners can effectively create sustainable living environments in Qasimabad Taluka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic started in the last week of December, 2019. An emergency was declared throughout the globe as the virus spread over 208 counties within a short amount of time. This pandemic had significant negative impacts on common men living in densely populated countries, including Pakistan. Hence, this research aimed to record people's perception of the 7th largest settlement in Pakistan, namely Hyderabad. This study mainly focused on socioeconomic and psychological parameters. The close-ended questionnaire was designed concerning the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The DASS-21 is an optimal tool for recording the emotional values of depression, anxiety, and stress. A total of 400 questionnaires were filled out; they used a 5-point Likert scale. Significant socioeconomic issues were noted, such as lower household income, economic recession, job cuts, inaccessible Internet services during online teaching or working from home, etc. The primary challenges in the lockdown situation were Internet access (4.06) and anxiety (4.86) in the female population. There were higher levels of depression (N = 200), anxiety (N = 341), and stress (N = 125) in the local inhabitants. Other notable problems were illuminated, such as restrictions on social gatherings, electricity load shedding, and lower incomes. This study concludes that the degree of psychological problems varied according to the typology of gender. Based on study findings, this study recommends the prompt execution of policies considering possible future pandemics to restrain anxiety and depression in the female population. The local government is also advised to revitalize infrastructure to provide uninterrupted power supplies and Internet facilities. The income-generating channels should be open for lower-income households concerning future lockdowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of Pakistan is increasing, with approximately 2% growth. Over the years, the country's healthcare system has struggled to meet the needs of the population. Nevertheless, because of shortages compared to population distribution, people are facing primary healthcare challenges, specifically in rural environments. Because of the absence of standard health services, the quality of the health sector deteriorated over time. Therefore, this study aims to compute the shortage of health facilities in Badin, Pakistan, per local health standards. The information related to available health institutes was obtained from the office of the Director-General Health Office with the help of a questionnaire. The current population was determined, and the same was projected up to the year 2035 with the help of a compound interest model. The linear model was executed and found to be significant, with the values of R = 0.996, R2 = 0.991, and Sig. F-change = 0.000. The Badin sub-region needed 201 basic health units, 37 rural health centers, and 746 dispensaries. The public health institutes were found unavailable as per demographic standards. This research set a platform for local authorities to take certain actions in framing essential policies to curtail the shortage of health institutions. This study is significant, as it confers existing and futuristic health institute demands. This research can serve as a model for remote sub-regions to address primary healthcare issues, including the fight against diseases and viruses. This research may also contribute to sustainable goal number 3, i.e., Good Health and Well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban settlements often deal with the massive transportation problems caused by mixed land-use development and improper travel services. This situation propels travel accessibility issues within urban centers. This research is intended to focus on the 3rd largest city of Pakistan's Sindh province, i.e., Sukkur, where residents were found struggling to reach their desired destinations. The study area has naturally grown without planning guidelines, generating traffic congestion and haphazard land-use patterns. This research aims to measure accessibility within the city center using trip rate analysis and a GIS-based isochrone model (1-km radius). In total, 234 household trips were randomly considered according to Morgan's sampling standards. The results revealed that scattered locations caused heavy traffic volumes without public transport facilities. The ratio of traveling by bike for shopping was recorded at 17.24%. Commuting by car; home-based, health, and shopping trips were ranked 1st (5.52%), 2nd (2.76%), and 3rd (1.38%), respectively. The isochrone-based maps were delineated to clarify the temporal accessibility features. Only three shopping activities were found to be accessible within 6 min. Most of the banks were found to be highly accessible. None of the health facilities were located within a 0–6 minute isochronal boundary. Two entertainment sites were accessible within 0–6 min. The residential neighborhoods were not close to the city center. Only three parks and six religious facilities were accessible within 6–12 min. The study findings clarified mixed land use activities accessed through multiple travel modes in the city center. Executing traffic management implications is a need of the time to induce sustainable transportation guidelines. Besides, the results may contribute to SDG 11.2, i.e., "affordable and sustainable transport systems" available for local commuters. The findings of this study are also relevant to evaluating the progress of some cities on SDG 11.2 regarding accessing feasible transportation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The travel accessibility problems resulted from the lack of transportation facilities and socioeconomic opportunities. These are often called travel impedances. At remote locations, the travel impedances severely affect the decision-making processes of households to satisfy basic needs. Thus, this study aims to highlight the impedance factors of rural households, using the trip generation regression model as an optimum accessibility measure. The study area was selected as Badin, the deprived subregion of southern Pakistan. Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world recently beating Brazil. More than 60% of Pakistan's total population is living in rural areas without essential transportation services. The truancy of a rural transport policy can be said as one of the reasons behind the vulnerability of rural Pakistan. Hence, the household's trip purposes were anticipated to the income, size, distance, and travel time. With the help of cluster sampling, the questionnaire survey was performed from a random sample of 100 households. The model, regional household trips by purpose (RTp), revealed strong-positive correlation values of R = 0.998 and R2 = 0.997. The larger household size and lower household income were found as acute impedances compared to travel time and distance. In other words, the higher population size and lack of economic opportunities were reported as the main findings of this study. This research deliberated the concept of a trip generation that is rarely executed to underline impedances of rural households. The study's findings can assist transport planners to formulate policy proposals for not only rural subregions but also urban centers of developing and developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land suitability analysis of any facility has become a complex affair. Each aspect of the landscape has inherent properties that are, to some extent, appropriate or inappropriate for planned activities. Compliance with government guidelines, installation guidelines and customer needs has made this task more complex. Land-use suitability analysis is identifying the most suitable spatial pattern for future land uses according to specific requirements, preferences, or predictors of some activity. Land-use suitability can mean different things to different experts depending on the purpose. Geographic Information System (GIS) has proven to be a key tool in addressing these land compatibility issues. GIS is a science of analysing position information that can count several numbers of these parameters at the same time, and it can be used to identify and analyse earth compatibility for all types of physical planning. A spatial aptitude model generally corresponds to the scientific question “Where is the best location for a particular facility or business? Therefore, this paper aims to provide an intensified approach to prepare datasets and layers for such land suitability problems using GIS. This paper will be valuable to land managers in land-use planning for any facility.