CDA to upgrade 10 slum areas of Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to improve 10 slum areas in Islamabad, which the government has designated as official slum areas.

The initiative aims to improve infrastructure, regularize settlements, and bring them into the city’s formal urban framework. The CDA board decided during a meeting chaired by Mohammad Ali Randhawa.

The board members approved new regulations that govern katchi abadis that the federal government established as legal settlements between 1995 and 2004.

The updated policy states that only people who were listed in the survey before December 31, 2002, will receive rights as authorized residents. The officials explain that this regulation will stop people from making false claims while also preventing unauthorized expansion.

The Planning Wing of CDA will initiate a new survey process to assess all 10 settlements. The officials will create detailed plans for the upgrading process after they finish the survey work.

The plan will provide basic utilities, conduct road repairs, construct new streets, enhance drainage systems, and improve neighborhood aesthetics. The CDA will connect these areas to Islamabad’s planned sectors, which include F-6, F-7, and G-7 districts. Islamabad has 10 officially recognized katchi abadis.

Authorities previously relocated people from Haq Bahoo and Dhoke Najo to Frash Town during earlier phases. The authorities distributed Frash Town plots to families from the Muslim Colony.

The allotment process continues for some families. CDA officials have also flagged illegal construction in certain settlements. The enforcement teams removed unauthorized structures that had been built in the Muslim Colony. Chairman Randhawa stated that the program will establish structured urban development while enhancing the quality of life for people who live in the area.