Thousands of residents face uncertainty over the status of the locality, while roads, utilities and other civic services remain major concerns.
ISLAMABAD: Residents of Ghauri Town have been caught for years in a dispute between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the developers of the housing scheme, leaving thousands of families uncertain about the locality’s legal and civic status.
According to a report published by Dawn on October 5, Ghauri Town has expanded across several phases and developed into a densely populated urban locality despite remaining unauthorised in the CDA’s records.
The residents say the original developers are no longer available to resolve approval-related issues with the civic authority, leaving homeowners to deal with the consequences of a dispute they say they did not create.
CDA lists Ghauri Town as unauthorised
The CDA maintains that private housing schemes require approval of their layout plans and issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before development and sale of plots.
Residents, however, point out that Ghauri Town has already grown into an established locality with thousands of houses, commercial areas, roads and utility networks.
They say the area’s legal uncertainty has continued to affect access to essential municipal services.
Residents raise concerns over basic facilities
Residents have particularly highlighted problems with roads, sanitation, waste collection, streetlights and other civic services.
Some residents said they have been paying privately for services because government agencies have not accepted responsibility for providing regular municipal facilities in the locality.
Road conditions in several parts of Ghauri Town have also deteriorated, according to residents.
The issue of natural gas connections has remained unresolved for years. Residents say gas infrastructure and pipelines already exist in some parts of the locality, but restrictions continue on new connections.
CDA considers broader solution for unauthorised schemes
The issue is not limited to Ghauri Town. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently said there are around 199 illegal housing schemes, including 62 located outside Islamabad but using the capital’s name.
According to his statement, authorities are considering giving such schemes an opportunity to register and enter the regulatory framework, while fines and enforcement action could also be imposed where required.
The CDA has also recently invited bids for a consultant to develop a way forward and prepare a financial model for unauthorised housing schemes.
Residents seek resolution, not indefinite uncertainty
Residents of Ghauri Town say they should not continue to suffer because of disputes involving the developers and authorities.
They are calling for a legal and administrative solution that would clarify the status of the locality and allow residents to access essential civic facilities.
A representative of the residents said the community was not asking authorities to ignore the law, but wanted the legal status of the area resolved so that thousands of families would not remain in uncertainty.
The case highlights the wider challenge faced by Islamabad authorities in dealing with unauthorised housing developments that have already evolved into established residential communities.
For Ghauri Town’s residents, the key issue now is finding a workable legal and administrative solution that protects homeowners while bringing the locality within an appropriate regulatory framework.
