ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Ali Nawaz Awan on Friday said after a recent judgement of Islamabad High Court (IHC), there was no longer a ban on new utility connections in Islamabad.

Speaking to Dawn, he said during hearing of a petition filed by a citizen the IHC recently directed the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) to issue utility connections to the petitioner.

He said though it was an individual case, during a briefing from relevant forums he was informed that it is the fundamental right of the citizens to have utility connections.

Meanwhile, the SAPM along with National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz, who is also MNA from Islamabad, held a meeting with the Iesco chairman on Friday and asked him to issue utility connections to the residents as there was no longer a ban.

When contacted, Iesco spokesperson Raja Asim told Dawn: “In today’s meeting it has been decided that Iesco will start issuing connections in rural areas of Islamabad as per previous practice where the CDA has no ownership.”

He said for the urban areas and housing societies, a meeting will be held between the CDA and Iesco to take a decision.The CDA a few years ago had requested the SNGPL and Iesco not to issue utility connections until the applicant have a non-objection certificate (NOC) from the CDA issued after approval of their building plan.

The CDA in its letter had cited a judgement of the Supreme Court and the IHC as well as a decision taken by the federal cabinet in 2004 that new utility connections should not be issued to unauthorised buildings.

Last year, the matter was also taken up by the federal cabinet and Prime Minister Imran Khan formed a cabinet committee to finalise recommendations.

When contacted, an official of the CDA said: “The picture will be clear in coming days. If SAPM is saying there is no ban on utility connections what I can say. But I know the cabinet committee is yet to complete its recommendations.”

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021