Safety Perceptions and Micro-Segregation: Exploring Gated- and Non-Gated-Community Dynamics in Quetta, Pakistan

Asifa Iqbal (), Tahira Shaukat and Humaira Nazir
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Asifa Iqbal: Department of Computer and Geospatial Sciences, University of Gävle, 80176 Gävle, Sweden
Tahira Shaukat: Department of Architecture, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87600, Pakistan
Humaira Nazir: Department of Architecture and Environmental Design, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75300, Pakistan

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: Crime impacts residential neighborhoods not only through the loss of life and property but also by instilling a widespread fear among residents. To combat this fear, physical security measures like safety locks, gates, and high perimeter walls have proven effective in both developed and developing nations. This trend has led to the increased popularity of gated communities in Pakistan as a preferred housing choice. In addition to encouraging micro-segregation, these developments also attract a large number of residents. In order to better understand the differences in residents’ fear of crime in relation to their health and socio-economic status, this paper compares residential housing schemes in Quetta, Pakistan (gated and non-gated). Surveys and on-site observations in four different residential areas of the city underpin the methodology. The results suggest that past experiences of crime victimization strongly affect feelings of safety in both gated and non-gated communities. The study highlights the complex relationship between the perception of safety, health and well-being, socio-economic status, and the type of community, highlighting how these factors collectively influence respondents’ experiences and create micro-segregation.

Keywords: residential neighborhoods; fear of crime; gated communities; non-gated residential housing; Quetta; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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