CSS Examiner report 2019 – Town Planning & Urban Management: Examiner’s Feedback and Student Guide
Introduction
Town Planning & Urban Management (TPUM) is a relatively new CSS optional that appeals to aspirants because of its short syllabus, relevance to Pakistan’s urban issues, and overlap with Environmental Science, Sociology, and Current Affairs. Many consider it “scoring.” However, the examiner’s report for CE-2019 showed that most candidates underperformed because they treated it superficially, lacked technical depth, and failed to apply urban planning principles to Pakistan’s challenges.
Examiner Feedback (2019)
The examiner observed:
- Performance was generally poor.
- Candidates gave descriptive, essay-type answers instead of technical, analytical responses.
- Many ignored urban planning theories, principles, and models, writing only about general problems like pollution and traffic.
- Application to Pakistan’s cities (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar) was missing.
- Diagrams, maps, and flowcharts were rarely used, even though they could have made answers stronger.
- A small group of well-prepared candidates who applied planning concepts + Pakistan-specific examples + visuals stood out and scored well【Examiner-Reports-CE-2019.pdf†L247-L253】.
Common Mistakes by Candidates
- Ignoring urban planning theories
- Few candidates mentioned planning models like Garden City, Concentric Zone, or Smart City concepts.
- Generalizing problems
- Writing long essays on traffic jams and pollution without offering structured planning solutions.
- No Pakistan-specific focus
- Neglecting to discuss Karachi’s informal settlements, Lahore’s transport crisis, or Islamabad’s master plan.
- Weak use of visuals
- Lack of city maps, zoning diagrams, or flowcharts.
- Poor structure
- Unorganized answers with weak outlines and examiner-unfriendly flow.
Practical Preparation Strategies
- Learn core planning theories and models
- Garden City (Ebenezer Howard)
- Concentric Zone Model (Burgess)
- Sector Model (Hoyt)
- Multiple Nuclei Model
- Smart Cities and Sustainable Urbanism
- Apply to Pakistan’s urban challenges
- Karachi: katchi abadis, transport chaos, water scarcity.
- Lahore: smog, urban sprawl, BRT projects.
- Islamabad: poor implementation of CDA master plan.
- Use case studies and data
- Quote World Bank reports, UN-Habitat data, Pakistan’s Census and Economic Survey.
- Include diagrams and visuals
- Draw neat zoning diagrams, flowcharts of urban management processes, and maps.
- Propose structured solutions
- Short-term: waste management, traffic regulation, green belts.
- Long-term: sustainable housing, smart city planning, decentralization.
- Read authentic sources
- Peter Hall – Urban and Regional Planning
- UN-Habitat – State of World’s Cities
- Pakistan-specific planning commission reports.
- Organize answers logically
- Intro → theory/model → Pakistan’s problem → solution → conclusion.
Encouraging Closing Note
The CSS 2019 examiner’s report shows that Town Planning & Urban Management is scoring only when treated technically. Those who wrote vague essays failed, while those who applied models, case studies, and Pakistan’s context scored well.
Remember: TPUM is not about describing problems — it’s about planning solutions. Every model you study, every city issue you analyze, every solution you propose makes your answer stand out.
Stay motivated: Pakistan’s urban future depends on sound planning. By preparing this subject well, you not only improve your CSS chances but also understand real-world governance challenges.