Forced Displacement, Socio-Economic Impacts andMisplaced Identity of Villagers: A QualitativeExploration of Three Villages in Lahore

Abstract

Displacement forces communities to shift their habitat which may also affect their socio-economic
status. Very few scholarly studies documented its socio-economic impacts. Especially the impacts
of forced internal displacement resulting from the development of new housing societies are
missing in the literature. To fill the gap, the present study aims to explore the socio-economic
impacts of internal displacement on villagers displaced from three villages of Lahore. For this
purpose, 18 in-depth interviews were conducted through purposively sampling. Qualitative
methodology and methods were used to achieve the research objectives, to select and recruit the
research participants and to collect and analyze data. Internal forced displacement negatively
affected the daily routine activities, social capital, and breakdown in the family system, detachment
and identity crises and sense of community ownership. Displacement also generated economic
dependence among villagers and made their skills and expertise non-relevant in relocated settings.
Hence, proper resettlement policy and plans are advised to be implemented before displacement
to avoid its negative socio-economic impacts