In Sector G-8: Sidewalks, greenbelts are for parking cars

Lack of funds holds up development work in the sector

ISLAMABAD: For all aspects, Sector G-8 of the federal capital presents the view of an important civic and commercial centre of the city.

Apart from housing the largest tertiary care hospital, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on one end, there are a handful of government schools and a large commercial centre in the middle.

The sector, which comprises Union Council-32 (UC-32), is home to over 25,000 people. It comprises several colonies including Post Office Employees Colony, T and T colony and IT centre, Pims colony, Radio Colony, Park PWD Blocks, Atomic Energy, Police Blocks, and PHA flats. Additionally, three slums also form part of the UC.

However, the local government and the civic authority have struggled with some of its persistent issues.

The sector is dotted with a large number of car showrooms. Store owners, however, prefer to park cars in the showroom in open areas to attract customers. Often this means, parking them in the designated parking lots and in every other place where a car can be squeezed onto, including sidewalks and even the green belt.

Despite the fact that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to remove encroachment in the city, it seems, that the CDA has been unable to enforce those orders in Sector G-8.

UC-32 Chairman Chaudhry Munir Ashraf maintains that claims by the CDA of taking action against encroachment were false and that cars continue to encroach on state and private land in the area.

"The CDA operation against encroachment misses its targets and people continue to park inside the public park," he said.

The showroom owners of Sector G-8 are ostensibly reluctant to remove encroachment structures.

Civic issues

This, however, is not the end of issues in the UC.

The construction of a pedestrian bridge —expected to be built on Faisal Avenue near Pims — which connects Sectors G-7 to Sector G-8 remains a distant dream for residents. The CDA has apparently completed its initial survey for the bridge but work on it is yet to start.

Moreover, a survey conducted by Daily Express showed that the old T and T Park, built in the mauve area in the south-east corner of the sector, had lost all of its beauty owing to the negligence of the government.

Such is the condition of the park that parts of it now resemble a jungle. Sections of the walls guarding the park have disappeared while its gates are also broken. The park is in desperate need of a spring cleaning and new swings for children.

The sector also houses a few slums which are infested with water problems owing to the dilapidated state of water and sewage pipelines.

"The storm drains of the UC still lack adequate safety structures. There is also a big problem of sewage water," Ashraf said.

The area also used to report high incidents of pollen allergy and registers substantial concentration of pollen during spring. Pollen concentrations as high as 36,000 per metre cube used to be recorded in the past.

However, the local government administration cut down a number of trees in the area which helped lower complaints to just 8,000.

Meanwhile, renovation and beautification work on seven government schools in the area has been completed.

Powerless

Ashraf told the Daily Express that owing to the absence of rules outlined by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), the UC is unaware of the extent of its authority.

Despite that, Ashraf claimed that they have tried to solve problems faced by the people.

In this regard, he said that approval for constriction of three filtration plants in the UC had been secured and that work on one plant had already begun.

However, like the rest of the local government structure, he said that the UC lacks most in terms of funds.

"None of the funds promised under the package of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was allocated for UC-32," Ashraf said.

UC-32 Vice Chairman Malik Ikhlaq Awan told Daily Express that they had to set up electricity and light poles on their own. However, he said that they have repaired all street lights in the UC.

"The jungle near the school in T and T Colony has been cleared to make a passage," Awan said.

General Councilors Ehtesham Waheed Sati and Iqbal Khattak and Youth Councilor Chaudhry Kamran maintained that the authorities have approved funds for renovating and beautifying Bismillah Plaza, Azam Plaza, Ehtesham Plaza, Umar Plaza, Zulfi Plaza, Anwar Plaza and Bismillah Chowk.

Work on this project, though, is yet to begin.

"However, the UC has completed 80 per cent of the work inside the Markaz while the remaining work is pending due to lack of funds to pay the contractor," they said.

UC-32 residents state that while some aspects have been improved in the UC, particularly street lights, there is a need to replace the faulty water and sewage pipes.

Rising crime

There have been reports that street crime is on the rise in the area with drug peddlers seen pushing narcotics openly near several slums of the UC.

"The drug peddling is at its peak but no strict action is being taken," Ashraf said.

"The traders are concerned over the increasing incidence of thefts," UC officials said.

Residents of the area said that the drug business was at its peak near the slums and that the police seem reluctant to take any serious action against those responsible despite repeated complaints.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2018.