Arif Hasan is an architect, planner, activist, teacher, researcher, and the author of many books, research papers, and monographs on anthropology and urban and rural development issues. He has been the Principal Consultant to the Orangi Pilot Project-Research and Training Institute from 1981 to 2017. He is also the founding Chairperson of the Urban Resource Centre, Karachi and a founding member of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, Bangkok. He has also taught at a number of Pakistani and European universities, been a member of various UN committees, and his activism has led to the modification of a number of projects in favour of low-income communities. He has received multiple national and international awards for his work including the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and the Prince Claus Award.