ISLAMABAD: The cabinet is soon going to take up the Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s summary regarding lifting of a ban on utility connections.

According to sources, the civic agency had moved a summary to the interior ministry for onward submission before the cabinet a few days ago.

In the summary, the CDA presented details of the case and it will now be the cabinet’s decision whether the ban will be lifted or not, they added.

Residents of Islamabad outside the sectoral area have been facing issues getting new utility connections because of the ban a few years ago.

The CDA had requested Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) not to issue utility connections unless a no-objection certificate (NOC) was obtained from it.

Citizens living outside the sectoral area have been facing issues in getting new utility connections because of the ban

The Capital Development Authority had taken the decision following court rulings and cabinet’s (2004) orders to stop unauthorised construction, they said, adding now the cabinet is taking up the summary for lifting the ban because utility connections are the fundamental right of the citizens.

The sources said thousands of people in urban and rural areas had been facing difficulty in getting new connections for their already constructed homes.

“We have shared the relevant information with the interior ministry, now it is up to the cabinet to decide on the matter,” said an official of the CDA.

When contacted, Capital Development Authority spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali also confirmed that a summary had been forwarded to the interior ministry.

“I can’t share the content of the summary but yes a few days ago we have submitted a summary related to the utility connections,” he said.

The sources said the government had also been facing pressure from the public to lift the ban.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2020