The rent of residential properties in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has recorded a sharp jump as a large number of people from the upper parts of the country have started coming to the twin cities with the advent of winter.
Every year, many people from the mountainous region of Kashmir, Murree, Swat, Kalam and Kohistan come in twin cities to avoid harsh weather in their respective areas.
As a result of the increase in property rent, people are facing great difficulties in finding suitable accommodation. And the latest hike is beyond their expectation and means as the owners of houses are cashing the season by offering very high rents. Since, thousands of winter-stricken people come in twin cities during the month of November and December, the owners have also started disturbing the already living tenants by asking them for more rent or ordering them to vacate the houses.
Earlier, the normal rent in Rawalpindi of a three-bed portion ranged around Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000, depending on the condition of house, while it was around Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 in the not-so-posh localities of Islamabad; however, the rates are now skyrocketing with a multiplied demand. “I used to bring my family from Murree to Rawalpindi in the winter season, but we had to face great difficulties in selecting a house on normal rent this year,” said Hussain Sati, who is residing in Dhoke Kala Khan.
Hussain said since there was no law to control house rent, the owners were charging the tenants at their own will and also demanding security money without any justification, making it difficult for people to find shelter in winter.
Rashid Khan, a vendor at Aabpara Market, said, “Nowadays the rent of houses in the twin cities are beyond the range of poor people.”
He demanded the government to establish residential colonies for low-income shelterless people. Another tenant Zia Bajwa said the problem was augmenting with each passing day, as no poor could not purchase house; therefore, the government should build colonies of one bedroom houses to settle the poor people on affordable rent.
According to Zia, poor have only empty pockets after paying the rent and utility bills and they borrow kitchen items from grocery shops at higher rates.
During a partial survey of the twin cities, it was noticed that many winter-stricken people had opted to live in suburb areas of Bharakahu, Alipur Farash, Golra, Dhamial, and Adiala.
During the winter season, the property dealers – who play a role of bridge between the owners and the probable lodgers – earn handsome money in the name of commission.
“In last winter, I earned around Rs 100,000 and my business is going well this season too,” said Karim Riaz, who runs his office at Shamsabad. Karim says he takes one-month rent from customers as commission.
