Assessing public perception and multifunctionality of sustainable urban green spaces in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract Urban Green Spaces (UGS) are critical in the resilience of various social-ecological systems. They significantly contribute to human health and social cohesion, and contribute to an economy in an already urbanized world. Nevertheless, they are under great risk of decline and governance-related mismanagement in the Global South. The city of Islamabad, which serves as the federal capital of the fifth most populated nation in the world, is a representative case of planned rapidly urbanizing capitals in the Global South. This paper uses a quantitative research design employing factor analysis and regression on 5-point ordinal survey data to assess the perceptions of the people and the physical, governance-related, and socio-cultural obstacles to the optimal use of the multifunctional UGS, relying on the results of the survey of 365 residents. The findings show that residents perceive current UGS in Islamabad to improve the air quality, mental health, and the price of properties as benefits. Nonetheless, the results indicate that the underprivileged population is perceived to face disadvantages due to over-utilization, poor maintenance, and unfair use of such facilities. This paper also identifies perceived barriers such as safety issues and socio-cultural barriers, highlighting the need to adopt a participatory method in city planning. The results highlight the importance of participatory and inclusive approaches of urban planning that focus on equitable allocation, ecological design, and better administration of green spaces. This research provides empirical evidence from 365 residents that perceived ecological, social, and economic benefits of UGS are significant. Socio‑economic benefits were found to be associated with quality/satisfaction (β = 0.397/0.382, p < 0.01), while environmental regulation benefits were associated with reduced safety (β = − 0.488, p < 0.01), with the regression models explaining 45% of the variance in quality/satisfaction and 27.5% in safety. Despite these positive associations, persistent barriers (poor maintenance, overcrowding, safety concerns) and demographic inequities require targeted participatory planning in fast‑growing Global South cities.