Rawalpindi: The long-standing boundary dispute between the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been resolved, with the RCB announcing plans to mark its new borders along Islamabad.
The dispute arose after residents in areas where the boundaries of Rawalpindi Cantonment and Islamabad overlapped failed to pay taxes to the RCB, causing significant financial losses for the civic body. Following the federal cabinet’s approval of changes to Islamabad’s master plan, the RCB is now set to incorporate portions of the federal capital into its jurisdiction, resolving the issue.
A spokesperson for RCB confirmed that the board will install pillars along the newly defined boundary between Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The decision comes after the federal cabinet’s approval earlier this month to amend the boundaries, allowing RCB to extend its jurisdiction over parts of Islamabad, specifically sectors G-13, G-14, H-13, H-15, I-12, and I-14, which were previously part of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.
RCB was established in 1849, with its boundaries clearly defined in 1957, while the CDA came into existence in 1960, with Islamabad’s boundaries being outlined in 1963. This historical difference in boundary definitions contributed to the disputes between the two authorities.
The new boundaries, which are now set to include areas adjacent to Golra Road, EME College, Chungi No 26, and Motorway Chowk, aim to clarify the division of responsibility for civic services, including tax collection and infrastructure development. As a result of this resolution, the RCB is now empowered to collect property taxes from residents in these newly included areas, helping to eliminate previous tax evasion issues.
However, some residents have expressed concerns over the legal status of their land ownership, as their properties were originally registered under the jurisdiction of Islamabad. These residents, particularly in the areas of Golra Mor and Haji Camp, are seeking clarification regarding the impact of the boundary changes on their property documents and legal standing.
Questions were also raised about the jurisdiction of police stations in these areas, which is expected to be clarified in the coming days. Despite these concerns, officials from the RCB have assured residents that the changes will help improve municipal services, including water supply systems and tube wells, which were previously installed by the RCB in these areas.
The resolution of this boundary dispute marks a significant step in addressing the longstanding issues between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, ensuring more efficient governance and service delivery for residents on both sides of the twin cities.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
