Urbanization has emerged as one of the most defining socio-economic processes of the contemporary world, driven by population growth, industrialization, and the concentration of economic opportunities in urban spaces. While cities act as engines of growth, innovation, and cultural exchange, rapid and unplanned urbanization poses profound challenges to sustainable development. Sustainable development seeks to balance economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, but the pace and nature of urban expansion often disrupt this balance, creating complex and interlinked challenges. One of the foremost challenges of urbanization is environmental degradation. Rapid urban growth leads to the conversion of agricultural land, forests, wetlands, and other ecologically sensitive areas into built-up spaces. This land-use change reduces biodiversity, disrupts ecosystems, and weakens natural carbon sinks. Urban sprawl increases dependence on private vehicles, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Cities are major contributors to climate change due to high energy consumption, reliance on fossil fuels, and concentration of industries. Poor air quality, water pollution, and accumulation of solid waste directly undermine environmental sustainability and adversely affect human health, particularly among vulnerable urban populations. Water stress and inadequate sanitation represent another critical challenge. Urbanization increases demand for freshwater for domestic, industrial, and commercial use, often exceeding the carrying capacity of local water resources. Over-extraction of groundwater, pollution of rivers and lakes, and inefficient water distribution systems exacerbate water scarcity. In many rapidly growing cities, especially in developing countries, informal settlements lack access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. Untreated sewage discharged into water bodies contaminates ecosystems and poses serious public health risks, undermining the social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Housing shortages and the proliferation of informal settlements are central social challenges linked to urbanization. The inability of cities to provide affordable and adequate housing for all results in the growth of slums characterized by overcrowding, insecure tenure, poor infrastructure, and exposure to environmental hazards. These settlements are often located on marginal lands such as floodplains, steep slopes, or polluted industrial areas, making residents highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. The persistence of urban poverty and inequality contradicts the inclusive growth objectives of sustainable development and reinforces intergenerational cycles of deprivation. Urban infrastructure deficits further constrain sustainability. Rapid population influx places immense pressure on transport systems, energy supply, waste management, healthcare, and education services. Inadequate public transport leads to