Final Year Project

Project Title

INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE SETTLEMENT OF RURAL-TO-URBAN MIGRANTS IN PAKISTAN: EVIDENCE FROM KARACHI AND ISLAMABAD

Description

Research investigates how rural-to-urban migrants in Pakistan rely on kinship ties and community-based social capital to secure employment, housing, and social support in major urban cities and how the practice is still relevant and crucial. While reflecting on the concept of social capital, I recognized that relying on kinship ties, personal references, and favors to secure jobs or housing has long been a traditional norm in our society. I believe these practices are often considered informal but deeply embedded in how people navigate opportunities. By focusing on students, domestic workers, and those who migrate from villages and small towns, the research examines the mechanisms through which relatives, friends, and networks act as intermediaries in job placement, temporary residence, and emotional belonging.