KARACHI:
Islamabad, which was once an example of good urban planning, is now a cautionary tale of neglect. The Capital Development Authority (CDA), tasked with preserving the capital city’s vision, faces fierce criticism as decades of mismanagement take their toll.
Promises made by the authorities were broken Sectors E-12 and C-14 remain incomplete generations after announcement. While CDA moves toward C-14, thousands of plot owners in abandoned developments continue to wait for basic infrastructure.
Lawless development meanwhile continues. More than 117 illegal housing schemes operate without NOCs, thumbing their noses at zoning laws. Despite million-rupee fines and enforcement raids, unauthorised construction spreads unchecked through Tarnol, Lehtrar Road and Bhara Kahu.
Moreover, water shortages plague core sectors. The Shahdara and Dotara dams, which promise 82 MGD each, should be finished by 2027. For parched residents, that’s three years too long.
After 51 revisions in the master plan, the “planned city” loses its plan as green belts and trees shrink. Beautification drives mask systemic rot.
Kiran Khan
Rawalpindi
