Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to allow double-storey buildings in two of the city’s ten slums, according to a news report. There are ten recognised slums in Islamabad. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat had recently instructed CDA to allow double-storey buildings in all the legal slums to cater to the housing needs of lower income families.
However, the CDA Katchi Abadi Cell has decided to give permission for double-storey buildings in only two of these slums, one in G-8/1, and the other in Farash Town, because these are properly planned. CDA officials stated that buildings in slums cannot sustain extra load and will pose a threat due to any natural disaster. Moreover, the width of the streets is also inadequate. CDA has, nevertheless, decided to upgrade the remaining eight slums as well.
It has been found that in the katchi abadis in G-7/1, G-7/2, G-7/3-2, and F-7/4, more than 90 % of the buildings are already double-storey, in a clear violation of the rules.
