Businesses swell in Rawalpindi residential areas

Thousands of cases of violation of laws governing change of land use from residential to commercial are visible throughout Rawalpindi. “As commercial activities go on in our neighbourhood, we have to face daily the filth and the noise pollution,” says Afshan Sharif living near National Market on Kali Tanki Road.

“The place where now National Market exists had been designated as a parking space for the surrounding localities. It has now turned into a full-grown rather full-blown market with the “kindnesses” of city fathers, thus making life tough for us,” says Binte Fatima, a resident of Asghar Mall Scheme.

“We have completely been deprived of home privacy as commercial units are present right in front of our houses. It’s just ironic that we cannot move out of here now as our two generations have lived here,” lament several residents of Tench Bhata.

“We know many people want to work overtime and set up some business anywhere to support household budget. The idea is not a bad one if it is limited to running a small enterprise like grocery shop but the initiative of building commercial plazas in residential areas is a venture hard to digest ,’’ says Dr Imama Ali administering a clinic in Commercial Market, Satellite Town.

“A two storey plaza on two marla land has come up just opposite my house. I don’t know who gave them the permission to do so in a residential locality,’’ says Mrs. Nayyar Hussain, a resident of Fazal Town.

“Most of the Rawalpindi residential and commercial areas in Rawalpindi city and Cantonment are not different now. The line between them has almost disappeared. Hundreds of companies have set up their offices in many residential localities like Asghar Mall, Dhoke Kashmirian, Dhoke Kala Khan and Shamsabad. Even industrial activities in some residential localities like Tehmasabad, Glass Factory Chowk and Banni are evident,” says Naveed Hussain, a lawyer.

“Jhanda Cheechi, Tahli Mohri, Sir Syed Chowk, Mareer Hasan and Dhok Charagh Din also have been subjected to commercialisation. The situation is the same in Range Road, Tench Bhata, People’s Colony, Kamalabad, Miserial Road, Peshawar Road. Dhoke Syedaan, Scheme III, Harley Street Westridge, Dheri Hassanabad, Tariqabad, Dhoke Hassu, Quaid-i-Azam Colony and Adiala Road are also no exception,” adds Naveed.

“It is alleged that commercial units come up in residential areas by greasing the palms of officials,” says Tassawar Hussain, a businessman.

“The question is who pays these officials? The one paying them is the first defaulter. If a case like this comes to our notice, we will definitely take action,” says Safdar Karim, an RDA official.

“Satellite Town is a brilliant example of how poor urban planning can bring a residential locality to ruin. An unchecked growth of commercial organisations has reduced this once posh locality to a clutter of offices, educational buildings, health centres, private clinics, bakeries and grocery shops companies, boutiques, hotels and restaurants that have torn off this residential locality’s oxygen mask,” says Hashim Ali from D-Block.

“Similarly, residential plots and buildings around Holy Family Hospital have been transformed into commercial spaces, complexes and offices, while the civic authorities have thrown up their hands,” adds Hashim.

Colonel (r) Ejaz Malik from Katarian says: “It is very hard to say whether the Rawal Town Tehsil Municipal Administration, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, Chaklala Cantonment Board or Rawalpindi Development Authority is responsible for the mess. But it seems all of them have joined hands to destroy the peace of the city.”