Everyday Urban Services
Deliberating and designing essential everyday services: water, sewerage, drainage, solid waste management, housing, transport, and survival needs like food to serve the urban poor with inclusion and dignity.
Established October 2001 • Lahore
A place of dialogue between government and urbanites
The Punjab Urban Resource Centre (PURC) was established in Lahore in October 2001 by a group of development professionals, community activists, architects, sociologists and academics, as a place of dialogue between government and urbanites. The idea was pioneered at the Directorate General, Katchi Abadis and Urban Improvement by Imdad Hussain, Hafiz Rashid Mahmood and Muhammad Javaid Iqbal Awan.
It was set up to give a forum to the urban poor whose voices either remain unheard or silenced in urban development planning. Today PURC is an independent organisation with its own research, forums and advocacy programme.
What We Do
Our Focus Areas
Bringing together the urban poor, government, civil society, media, and academia to design inclusive and dignified urban living.
Forums, Research & Coalitions
Holding open forums, research, advocacy and training for students, community activists and government officials, building coalitions for the urban poor.
Atmospheres, Climate & Life
Voicing the rights of more-than-human communities of animals, birds, insects, and all forms of life, while addressing the challenges and opportunities created by climate change and AI for the urban poor.
Our Methodology
Practical Ideas, Tested in the Field
“PURC works to conceive, test and document low-cost, alternative and affordable ideas to make our cities work for everyone in general, but for the urban poor in particular.”
Advocacy & Diversity
Inclusive Cities for Gender, Age, Faith & Income Diversity
PURC commits to make Punjab’s cities inclusive of gender, age, faith, and income groups diversity. Recently, PURC is extending its work to address the challenges and opportunities created by climate change and AI for the urban poor.
- Recent Policy & Strategic Focus
PURC is recently focusing on water, climate, and food and giving pro-poor urban development proposals to the local and provincial government.
Institutional Practice
How PURC Operates on the Ground
By demanding transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in urban planning, PURC proposes inclusive and affordable ideas.
01
Issue-based Information
Collecting information on urban issues through daily newspaper clipping and analysis, and from government departments, the media and national and international organisations.
02
Research & Documentation
Studying and documenting selected development activities in the city, and the ongoing work of government and non-government organisations.
03
Forums Programme
Holding regular forums open to all citizens, local government representatives and planning institutions, to exchange information and debate.
04
Advocacy & Training
Preparing policy briefs, memos and position papers for government, and training students, officials and other stakeholders.
Our History
Milestones Since 2001
Key moments in PURC’s work, drawn from its own records and publications.
October 2001
PURC established in Lahore
Founded as a place of dialogue between government and urbanites.
October 2004
First recorded urban forum
An open forum on water privatisation, followed in 2005 by a forum on the proposed privatisation of WASA Lahore.
2005
Research internships begin
Students have joined PURC each year to research urban issues in Lahore.
2006
“Urban News” newsletter
A monthly newsletter of key urban and development news from the previous month.
September 2008
Water Supply in Lahore
A study arguing for public-sector reform of WASA Lahore rather than privatisation, later published in Urdu.
December 2009
Settlement studies
Urdu studies of Amina Park, Chaudhry Park and Shadiwal Sahnwan near Thokar Niaz Baig.
June 2011
State of Water & Sanitation in Punjab
A position paper prepared with financial assistance from WaterAid.
2012
Thirsty Cities
Dr. Imdad Hussain’s analysis of the Punjab Drinking Water Policy.
2014–2017
Forums on Lahore’s development
Forums on signal-free corridors, local government, katchi abadis and the Walled City.
About PURC
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was PURC founded?
The Punjab Urban Resource Centre was established in Lahore, Pakistan, in October 2001 by a group of development professionals, community activists, architects, sociologists and academics.
Who founded PURC?
The idea for PURC was pioneered at the Directorate General, Katchi Abadis and Urban Improvement by Imdad Hussain, Hafiz Rashid Mahmood and Muhammad Javaid Iqbal Awan. Dr. Imdad Hussain is PURC’s Director.
Is PURC part of the government?
No. PURC began as a place of dialogue between government and urbanites, and today works independently, with its own research, forums and advocacy programme.
What does PURC do?
PURC collects information on urban issues, researches and documents development in the city, holds open forums, keeps a reference library, prepares policy briefs and position papers for government, and trains students and officials.