GIS Network Analysis of Social Infrastructure Accessibility in Peshawar’s Walled City

Social infrastructure is the backbone of a community that functions it, but in Pakistan public facilities are provided on a "population need" base, ignoring the "equally accessible for all" rule. In this study we evaluate the importance of Public transit, health, educational, Green spaces, worship places, law & order facilities, and their accessibility for an inclusive, Livable, Independent, healthy, and civilized neighbourhood and a GIS-based method of Network analysis (service area analysis) tool is used to analyze the accessibility within an 800 m walking distance (standard of 20-Minute city concept) into social infrastructure of Peshawar's walled city, including 6 types of public facilities like hospitals & BHUs, schools, Parks & open spaces, Police stations, Mosques, and the Bus Rapid Transit Peshawar’s stations serving the settlement area. This tool quantifies the coverage area along the complex and irregular street network and identifies the facilities of maximum coverage by filling the walled city total area. We have health, Educational, and Mosques accessible within the 800 m walkable distance limit while the Parks and Police stations exceed the limit by 100 m and the BRT Peshawar station has a 1400 m walkable distance leading by 600m to reach the other side of the city. This analysis motivates improvement in spatial planning and resource distribution, and two Mini-Public Transit Service routes are proposed for the accessible, walkable, and sustainable walled City of Peshawar. The study may provide Urban Planners and development authorities a broad view of public facilities provisions and limitations within the heritage-rich settlement.