Punjab Urban Resource Centre (PURC) was established in October 2001 by a group of individuals comprising development professionals, community activists, architects, sociologists and teachers. In general, urban development planning in Pakistan is top down and takes place without consultation with interest groups, especially poor communities. For this reason, development is often non-representative and unable to effectively meet the needs of the citizens. PURC seeks the involvement of citizens and communities in the planning and decision-making process in order to make development more responsive to the needs of people. Through research, PURC attempts to understand urban and development-related issues, and with advocacy influences these in the light of a pro-poor approach. 

The objectives of PURC include promoting dialogue between the broad range of urban actors, advocating for the participation of citizens and academia in all stages of development, encouraging transparency and accountability of government and private bodies in the development, planning, and policy making processes, and eventually providing alternatives to projects which are likely to have adverse environmental, social, technical or economic effects on the city and its vulnerable communities. PURC’s current activities include issue-based information collection, research, documentation and publication, discussion forums, networking and liaison with the actors of the urban development process, publications, and monthly newsletter Urban News.

Punjab Urban Resource Centre (PURC) was established in October 2001 by a group of individuals comprising development professionals, community activists, architects, sociologists and teachers. In general, urban development planning in Pakistan is top down and takes place without consultation with interest groups, especially poor communities. For this reason, development is often non-representative and unable to effectively meet the needs of the citizens. PURC seeks the involvement of citizens and communities in the planning and decision-making process in order to make development more responsive to the needs of people. Through research, PURC attempts to understand urban and development-related issues, and with advocacy influences these in the light of a pro-poor approach. 

The objectives of PURC include promoting dialogue between the broad range of urban actors, advocating for the participation of citizens and academia in all stages of development, encouraging transparency and accountability of government and private bodies in the development, planning, and policy making processes, and eventually providing alternatives to projects which are likely to have adverse environmental, social, technical or economic effects on the city and its vulnerable communities. PURC’s current activities include issue-based information collection, research, documentation and publication, discussion forums, networking and liaison with the actors of the urban development process, publications, and monthly newsletter Urban News.