AMID the ever-changing political situation in the country, blame games and broken promises, the citizens in many areas across the land await basic utilities, such as water, electricity and gas that play a vital role in overall economic and social development.

One such locality is the New Shaheen Town near Ghoriabad Tarlai Khurd in Islamabad, where there is no supply of either Sui gas or piped-water, besides, no new electricity connections have been granted if the past many months. The gas lines were installed in the area but no progress has been made since then.

The locality has 1,013 households, and, on an average, each unit has to spend Rs15,000 per month for getting liquefied petroleum gas and water from the market, and electricity from the neighbours who were lucky enough to have meters installed earlier.

For families living in rented homes, the basic domestic budget has increased up to Rs45,000 per month, excluding food, education, health and other expenses aside. The minimum total monthly expenditure for a six-member family, as such, goes well beyond Rs100,000.

In the current scenario, with high inflation rate, saving for the future is out of question because a family is either indebted or has to cut expenditures to ensure baseline survival.

This issue is being raised in the best interest of the locality where I am currently residing. I urge the government to provide essential services in the area on an urgent basis without waiting for the next election.

Abdul Qadir Jilani
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2020