Inequality is when Resources are not equally divided among the two segments of the society and there is a difference between the circumstances of two segments of the society. When one segment gets better resources and the other is deprived of these resources, inequality starts to prevail.

In urban cities like Karachi, one of the most common things is inequality. Some People live in 8000 yard houses while others live on the footpaths or small houses which does not even have a roof. In the same workplace, you can find people coming in suv’s and limousines and at the same time 3 people coming on a single bike or on the top of a poorly made public bus. Hospitals are different for people who can afford more. And ones who can’t afford are made to stand in long queues just to be seen by an under qualified doctor. These are some inequalities that are not looked upon and have become the norm of an urban city.

The infrastructure that is made for the rich and the slums that are available for the poor is  one of the biggest visible difference that is shown due to the inequality in distribution of income to the rich and the poor in the big cities. (Lawrence, 2002) The poor have been given no place to live, they sit on foot paths in the day selling whatever they can in order to make some money to be able to eat something and then sleep on the same foot path while the rich have big mansions built with resources they own through the status quo system of capitalistic economic structure. This structure defines this inequality as through this structure the powerful elite segment of the society is able to educate their children to own more business and higher ranks in even civil service. This does not only allow them basic survival but also let them make progress. However, the week poor segment of the society, due to lack of social services like health and education provided by the government stays deprived of better education and skill which could help them built a better life. (Lawrence, 2002)

Whenever there is a luxurious residential area made for the higher class of the society, there is an area close to it which caters for the lower class as well which is very poorly made. These areas exist together to cater the requirements that the higher class needs and the services the lower class that provide.

For instance in Karachi, there is a luxurious residential and commercial area of defense for the elite people who have gigantic incomes, to live in which connects directly to areas like qayumabad, neti jeti etc. As people who live in defense need labor to build their house, drivers and maids to give services to them. Hence, just besides an elite residential we can see the slums, a perfect example of inequality in an urban developed city.

Furthermore, in the city of Karachi, people were made jobless due to a government decision of closing down the empress market, a place for sellers who have been working there for more than 20 years and there source of income was that only, now, they have been made jobless and unemployed, according to an article so many people are now at difference places of the country trying to find a source of income. At the same place now, there will be something else made which will not cater to these people anymore. The poor who had their only lifetime source of income from here have nothing anymore. (Imtiaz)

Basic Healthcare and education is government’s responsibility so that there is equality in terms of opportunities and the aim is to reach equality and living standards.  (Lawrence, 2002). In Karachi or other urban cities except for few, education is affordable to only the elite class. Government hospitals are very few in comparison to the requirement of the city. The elite can still afford to use private ones but the larger poor segment of the society is not provided with proper health care by government. In USA, if a person has not bought insurance for themselves then education and hospital bills will be a lot on them, however, some people can just not afford to buy this insurance so they not have the right to get health benefits or education like the rest of the citizens. This creates inequality in the society.  It also shows that even a developed and wealthy country like USA can also face inequality and it is not something a wealthy nation can solve with just more wealth. Instead, it requires structural social reforms. Mostly urban cities are same in their nature of holding large population of immigrants and diverse groups’ people with prevailing inequality. Hence, the reforms needed would not vary country to country instead, universal set of reforms should be part of urban planning in all parts of the world so that inequality and poverty can be dealt in a better way.

Bibliography

Imtiaz, S. (n.d.). AN ELEGY FOR KARACHI’S EMPRESS MARKET. Roads and kingdoms.

Lawrence, R. J. (2002). Inequalities in urban areas: innovative approaches to.