Living on the edge: Fraught with civic issues, DHA no longer boasts of safe environment
Residents’ society feels authorities will face further difficulty in managing DHA’s affairs in the future.
“The CCTV cameras installed by DHA authorities are just for decoration,” Iqbal claimed.
KARACHI:
Once known for its neatly-trimmed gardens and wide open roads, the affluent Defence Housing Authority (DHA), which is housing top politicians, diplomats, celebrities and businessmen in the city, is facing a number of civic problems.
Defence Residents Society (DRS) president Zafar Iqbal was of the view that the future of the serene and peaceful neighbourhood is not very promising. “DHA will be very overcrowded in the future,” he said. “The authorities will face difficulty in managing its affairs. Its lanes will be choked with traffic and problems will multiply.” As a resident of the housing authority for the last 40 years, Iqbal remembered how clean the area used to be and how less congested it was in the past. Perhaps to bring back the same environment, Iqbal has spent most of his life raising the residents’ voice to improve the neighbourhood.
Street crime
He felt that street crime has increased with time as the residents are facing a deteriorating law and order situation. Robberies have become a common phenomenon as people are mugged at gunpoint. Many of them are also getting calls to pay extortion.
“The CCTV cameras installed by DHA authorities are just for decoration,” Iqbal claimed, as he recalled an instance when he was visiting the DHA control room and saw live footages of a mugging on Khayaban-e-Ittehad. “When I asked the official why they didn’t go the spot, they said that they did not have the resources to catch the criminals.”
Iqbal blamed the police for the increasing crime rate, saying that the responsibility to ensure security lay with law-enforcement agencies, and not DHA officials. As a result, the residents are left with no choice but to hire private guards for protection.
Influx of people
Despite the rise in street crime, a large number of people from other parts of Karachi and other cities are relocating to DHA - a neighbourhood that boasts of high society and status symbols, Iqbal pointed out. The older residents of DHA are, on the other hand, moving abroad because of the security situation. “We are worried for our safety. The freedom to move around safely is not available anymore.”
Water shortages
And then there are civic amenities that DHA has been unable to provide to its residents. There are some parts of DHA that still face water shortages. Khayaban-e-Ghazi, Zamzama and other elevated locations are the most affected.
The residents’ society met the Cantonment Board Clifton and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board several times but water woes continue to haunt them. “Our requirement is 15 to 16 million gallons a day but we are supplied only 8m gallons,” said Iqbal. “Despite the increase in population, there has been no increase in the water quota by the KWSB.”
According to him, the water shortage issue is worsened by rusted pipes, rise of illegal hydrants and the tanker mafia. Hundreds of families have also installed suction pumps at their homes, which Iqbal felt were illegal.
Lack of will
Blaming the authorities for their lack of responsibily, Iqbal said the society meets regularly with CBC officials to discuss non-functional traffic signals, broken roads, heavy traffic flow and the increased rate of accidents.
“Whoever planned DHA wasn’t far sighted,” he said. “Just look at the narrow lanes of Zamzama and compare them to the wide roads of North Nazimabad.”
On the bright side
However, there are a few ups to living in DHA. Since the residents pay their electricity bills regularly and there is no theft of power, DHA has not been facing power outages for a few years, Iqbal said. DHA also pushed for the installation of underground electricity cables in the emerging Phase VIII, which will be the biggest phase in the locality. “This is an achievement,” he smiled.
“DHA is still better than other areas. It is very disciplined and the best living locality one can have.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2013.
Once known for its neatly-trimmed gardens and wide open roads, the affluent Defence Housing Authority (DHA), which is housing top politicians, diplomats, celebrities and businessmen in the city, is facing a number of civic problems.
Defence Residents Society (DRS) president Zafar Iqbal was of the view that the future of the serene and peaceful neighbourhood is not very promising. “DHA will be very overcrowded in the future,” he said. “The authorities will face difficulty in managing its affairs. Its lanes will be choked with traffic and problems will multiply.” As a resident of the housing authority for the last 40 years, Iqbal remembered how clean the area used to be and how less congested it was in the past. Perhaps to bring back the same environment, Iqbal has spent most of his life raising the residents’ voice to improve the neighbourhood.
Street crime
He felt that street crime has increased with time as the residents are facing a deteriorating law and order situation. Robberies have become a common phenomenon as people are mugged at gunpoint. Many of them are also getting calls to pay extortion.
“The CCTV cameras installed by DHA authorities are just for decoration,” Iqbal claimed, as he recalled an instance when he was visiting the DHA control room and saw live footages of a mugging on Khayaban-e-Ittehad. “When I asked the official why they didn’t go the spot, they said that they did not have the resources to catch the criminals.”
Iqbal blamed the police for the increasing crime rate, saying that the responsibility to ensure security lay with law-enforcement agencies, and not DHA officials. As a result, the residents are left with no choice but to hire private guards for protection.
Influx of people
Despite the rise in street crime, a large number of people from other parts of Karachi and other cities are relocating to DHA - a neighbourhood that boasts of high society and status symbols, Iqbal pointed out. The older residents of DHA are, on the other hand, moving abroad because of the security situation. “We are worried for our safety. The freedom to move around safely is not available anymore.”
Water shortages
And then there are civic amenities that DHA has been unable to provide to its residents. There are some parts of DHA that still face water shortages. Khayaban-e-Ghazi, Zamzama and other elevated locations are the most affected.
The residents’ society met the Cantonment Board Clifton and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board several times but water woes continue to haunt them. “Our requirement is 15 to 16 million gallons a day but we are supplied only 8m gallons,” said Iqbal. “Despite the increase in population, there has been no increase in the water quota by the KWSB.”
According to him, the water shortage issue is worsened by rusted pipes, rise of illegal hydrants and the tanker mafia. Hundreds of families have also installed suction pumps at their homes, which Iqbal felt were illegal.
Lack of will
Blaming the authorities for their lack of responsibily, Iqbal said the society meets regularly with CBC officials to discuss non-functional traffic signals, broken roads, heavy traffic flow and the increased rate of accidents.
“Whoever planned DHA wasn’t far sighted,” he said. “Just look at the narrow lanes of Zamzama and compare them to the wide roads of North Nazimabad.”
On the bright side
However, there are a few ups to living in DHA. Since the residents pay their electricity bills regularly and there is no theft of power, DHA has not been facing power outages for a few years, Iqbal said. DHA also pushed for the installation of underground electricity cables in the emerging Phase VIII, which will be the biggest phase in the locality. “This is an achievement,” he smiled.
“DHA is still better than other areas. It is very disciplined and the best living locality one can have.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2013.