EXPLORING RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND LIVELIHOOD SUSTAINABILITY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study examines the push and pull factors and the livelihood status of rural-urban immigrants in Quetta city, Pakistan. Rural-urban migration represents a critical socioeconomic phenomenon in developing countries, where pronounced disparities in living standards between rural and urban areas drive population movements. The study uses survey data collected from 202 households on the framework of sustainable livelihood assets, using convenience and snowball sampling methods. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and weighted least square estimation were employed to address heteroscedasticity detected in the dataset. Results show that better job opportunities and living standards were the most common pull factors, while average economic activity and non-accessible basic needs were the most common push factors driving migration to Quetta. Regression analysis shows that financial, human, and physical capital have a significantly positive effect on the livelihood of immigrant households, as measured through food security outcomes. Although social capital and natural capital also positively influence food security, their effects are statistically insignificant. The study contributes to the literature on sustainable livelihoods and internal migration in Balochistan province, Pakistan, and offers actionable policy recommendations for government authorities seeking to support rural-urban migrants through targeted financial assistance, skills development, and improved housing accessibility.