The Urban Resource Centre (URC) was set up in 1989 in Karachi, Pakistan. Its founders felt that Karachi’s official development plans ignored the larger socio-economic reality of the city and as such were unworkable, unaffordable and environmentally disastrous. They further felt that workable alternatives were required and these were possible only with the involvement of informed communities and interest groups.
To promote its objectives the URC identifies the actors and factors that are involved in shaping Karachi’s development along with their relationships with each other and with relevant state agencies. In addition, it carries out research on all proposed major urban development projects and analyses them from the point of view of communities and interest groups.
The website details a number of issues relevant to urban poverty in Karachi, including eviction, housing, land, transport and population.