Traditional Bazaar Spaces in Southern Punjab, Pakistan: Social Life, Urban Identity, and Residential–Commercial Coexistence

This paper focuses on discussing the traditional bazaar space of Uch Sharif, a historic urban centre in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, and how these bazaars have facilitated the social interaction, identity creation in the city and how they have shaped or united the residential and commercial lifestyle. The study, using a qualitative, case-based approach that combines spatial mapping, architectural analysis, visual documentation, and interviewing the stakeholders, reveals that the bazaars of Uch - Chunri, Mehboob Subhani and Bukhari are not just commercial centres, but are also dynamic socio-spatial systems. The buildings are climatically responsive, the plans are multi-use and the activities are culturally embedded, which are all aspects of vernacular urbanism. The bazaars of Uch are hybridities in space, with trade, dwelling, religion and social life in a dense urban structure, a structure that is quite the opposite of the rigid zoning patterns of the modern city. Based on theories of social space (Lefebvre), place attachment (Relph and Tuan), and vernacular resilience, the study demonstrates the importance of these bazaars in maintaining intergenerational knowledge, a community network, and flexibility of its environment. The courtyards, shaded alleys and the thick earthen walls that they employed as passive cooling systems are also good examples of sustainability in the conception of cities in semi-arid landscapes. Yet, these are threats that are becoming more present in these heritage spaces that are threatened by modernization, neglect and uncontrolled development. The study is in favor of comprehensive regeneration plan which comprises heritage zoning, participatory planning and encouragement of the traditional micro enterprises. This study evokes the lived heritage and the architectural intelligence of Uch bazaars which are still relevant as sensitive low energy cities with rich cultural heritage. Concludes that it is not only important to conserve them physically with the renewal of such spaces, but also to maintain the sense of social and symbolic meaning of everyday urban life.