Author: Muhammad Ali Khan
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.DS-25-05
Year: 2026
Academic Program: Development and Sustainability (DS)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2025
Examination Committee: Mokbul Morshed Ahmad (Chairperson); Takuji W. Tsusaka, Malay Pramanik (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: The newness of this comparative research was to examine: firstly, institutional and governance failure leading to slums growth, secondly, how social networks, informal economics and coping mechanisms influence livelihood security, briefly touches how gender, age and ethnicity intersect to shape unique slums experiences for marginalized group (women, children etc) and in addition past policy interventions such as rehabilitation projects which yields slums expansions for the first time. The general objective was to enquire about the unique motivational factors for each slum dweller community, i.e., Muslim, Afghan and Christian slums and their livelihoods. The primary data were collected randomly from 400 respondents of Islamabad slums by using a questionnaire. A Pearson Chi-square and Kruskal Wallis test were employed using SPSS-26 to compare the slums. The results indication shows that economic scarcity, lack of social support, close to familiar people, war, force evictions and political instability were significant factors which motivate the Afghanis to resided in the slum settlements. Similarly, social relations and access to fundamental services were the main driving forces for the Christian slum dwellers. Furthermore, low cost of living, welfare programs’ access, transport and affordable housing were critical factors for the Muslim slum dwellers. The livelihood analysis highlighted several commonalities between all the slum communities, such as poor female workforce participation, lack of membership of self-help groups, insecure land tenure, non-treatment of water, and non-use of mosquito nets. Afghan slum residents had the least impressive living conditions, with bigger families, more illiteracy, more insecurity, and worse housing and sanitation. Issues such as overcrowding, limited employment options, and distant healthcare facilities affected the Muslim slum dwellers at large. Furthermore, Christian slum dwellers are relatively more employed, they lack private healthcare resou
Scholarship Donor(s): Royal Thai Government; AIT Scholarship
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development and Sustainability
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