Urbanisation forum starts

A FORUM is looking at ways to address the problems associated with urbanisation in the country.
The two-day PNG national urban forum, which began yesterday in Port Moresby, aims to gather comments and ideas from individuals and groups concerned about the process of urbanisation and how to solve problems created.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Paul Isikiel said the rate of urban drift in the country would see an increase in squatter settlements in urban centres.
“We have to have a plan for towns and cities to minimise the increase in settlements,” he said.
Isikiel urged participants at the forum to contribute ideas and concerns which will be looked into.
Max Kep, director at the Office of Urbanisation and chairman for national consultative committee on urbanisation, said the influx of people into urban centres posed challenges.
He said problems associated with urbanisation included the increase in demand for services, the rapid rise in squatter settlements and unemployment.
Kep said PNG did not have any development plan for urbanisation.
“We believe that planning is the way to address the issues in the urban areas,” he said.
The forum has brought together chief executives of state- owned enterprises, department heads, community leaders, NGOs, donors, development partners, academia, squatters and landowners of urban
areas.