With the capital’s managers apparently in a deep slumber, one of the most populous and oldest sectors of the federal capital, Sector G-6, continues to be in shambles The markets in the sector are home to the worst kind of encroachment, commercial set-ups in residential areas, streets are lined with choked sewers and ensuing lack of cleanliness, the flats are in a dilapidated condition, pavements remain broken, street lights out of order and there seems to be no provision for potable water. The sector also reflects the double standards of the people at the helm, as the side of the sector that faces VIP buildings on the Embassy Road, is maintained well, while the other side that consists of houses of middle-class people appears totally ignored by the CDA.
The Melody Market, Food Park, Aabpara Market, Café Eram Market, Javed Market and several other markets are present in the sector and all of these, particularly the Aabpara market and Café Eram Market, have been marred by the encroachments at the front. Lal Mosque, Capital Hospital and several directorates of CDA are also situated in the very sector. Battery shops, auto workshops, small eateries and even shops selling school bags have expanded onto the main road in Aabpara Market, causing inconvenience for visitors.
“There is not enough space left in the market to walk,” said Haider Ali, a resident of G/6-2. Visitors complained that although routine inspections were carried out in the market, the absence of enforcement worsened the matters. Unavailability of proper parking spaces in several markets is also the haul mark of the sector. Aabpara Market President Ajmal Baloch told Pakistan Today that lack of parking spaces in the market has been creating immense problems for shopkeepers and visitors as well.
He said G/6 was the oldest sector of Islamabad, but was still deprived of several facilities, including clean drinking water. He said broken sewerage lines resulted in the accumulation of filthy water in the streets, adding that the sewerage water had contaminated clean drinking water, giving birth to several diseases in the area. “It is the responsibility of every government in the world to change its sewerage system after every 25 years, but the authorities concerned in the capital are turning a deaf ear to the issue. The sewerage system has not been changed even after the passage of 50 years,” he said. Residents of the sector complained that CDA’s discriminatory attitude towards their sector was the main reason of numerous civic problems. “If the CDA can renovate and clean the sectors located in F series on regular basis, why is it reluctant to ensure provision of every facility in sector G/6,” said Yasir Khan, a resident. The colony’s parks are also in a very bad shape due to the negligence of the CDA. Residents claimed that numerous requests had been made to the CDA to improve the poor condition of the sector, but all reminders seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. However, the negligent attitude of the so-called successive administration of CDA has been annoying the inhabitants of the area who demand the addressing of their grievances at the earliest.
