ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) now has four weeks’ time to complete the process of formulating and ratifying the Katchi Abadi policy Deadline, following the directive by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to fast-track initiatives regarding such policies for the national capital.
The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Arshad Shah, directed the CDA to consult with all concerned parties before coming up with a framework. The delay was a matter of serious concern for the court; thus, the need to devise an effective policy that could help in solving the problem.
The Deadline has shed light on the increasing problems of housing faced by poorer neighborhoods in Islamabad. According to rights organizations, there are more than 450,000 people residing in Katchi Abadies in Islamabad, some of which are at the risk of demolitions without any legal backing for their houses.
Housing problems highlighted in Katchi Abadi policy
The advocacy groups such as Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Aurat March Islamabad have been appealing to the concerned quarters to take up an enlightened and legalistic perspective in this regard. The immediate compensation to the families that have been affected through demolitions and eviction moratorium till policy formulation have been their demands.
These included the All-Pakistan Alliance for Katchi Abadis and the Awami Workers Party They advised that the concerned government agencies should desist from such evictions until they took the appropriate measures to protect the people’s rights.
Eviction threats still loom large for inhabitants of localities like Bari Imam and Allama Iqbal Colony G-7, in spite of court injunctions. Human rights groups observed that evictions were ongoing even with the court orders, prompting them to call for more effective implementation of court decisions.
It is necessary to stress the point here that any proposed policy needs to be consistent with the relevant legislation, such as the CDA Ordinance of 1960, that lays down the standard for the responsibilities of CDA in policy formulation. The law mandates CDA to concentrate on regularization and resettlement but not on displacement.
The next policy will be to provide solutions to the problems faced by informal settlements in the form of regularization or relocation as required. The objective of the government is to address the issue of lack of adequate housing and also to enhance the standard of living of the inhabitants.
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The planners argue that an effective policy will prevent any conflict between the authorities and the citizenry, as well as help towards achieving sustainable urban development. The importance of adopting an inclusive policy formulation process, which considers the needs of development alongside providing social safety nets, cannot be overstated.
Policy shapes future urban planning
This is because the directive from the court has pushed CDA into acting promptly in the provision of a working model within the time given. The officials indicated that they had already started consulting various parties, with the aim of incorporating their contributions to the project.
The success of this policy would determine the future urban development agenda of Islamabad for many years to come. The successful execution of this policy would not only help with good governance of the informal settlements but also help with infrastructure planning and legal security of the residents.
The issue throws light on the problem of urbanization and population growth within the city as well.
The involvement of the Supreme Court is indicative of the need to once again focus on accountability and policymaking when it comes to resolving issues related to katchi abadi settlements. It is only in the following weeks that we will come to know if the policymakers succeed in meeting their deadline.
