Govt urged to address problems of people living in New Sohan

URI vows to serve community at grassroots level

Islamabad 

The speakers at the launching ceremony of the office of United Religions Initiatives, Multi Cooperation Circles, Islamabad Capital Territory (URI MCCI ICT) on Tuesday called upon the government to address the problems faced by the people living in New Sohan and other localities along Islamabad Expressway. 

The ceremony was attended among others by, Interfaith Dialogue Centre Head Amna Hoti, URI Asia Coordinator Father OP James Chanan, Mr Zubair Ahmed Farooq Advocate Deputy Attorney Punjab Global Trustee URI Mrs Saeeda Yasmeen Raja, Coordinator Kiran Foundation Islamabad CC, Kiran Raja, Coordinator, Kiran Welfare Social Organization Islamabad CC,  Mrs Khursheed Malik, Coordinator, Hayat Nau Islamabad CC, Mr Ahmad Husain, Coordinator Ibtada Foundation Islamabad CC, Mrs Qamar Hasnanain Gilani, Reach Foundation, Mr Saeed u Rehman Siddiqi, Coordinator, Peace Group of Journalists CC Muzaffarabad, Dr GR Chishti, Coordinator, Karachi URI CC, Mr Sunil Mahboob, Coordinator, Peace and Harmony CC Islamabad, Imams and Pastors of the area especially Allama Sajjad Husain Naqvi, Member Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and Member District Peace Committee Pastor Saroya, member District Peace Committee Islamabad and Pir Azmat Sultan, Mr Arshad, Professor Mrs Shiekh and Mrs Noeen and others. A ‘Welcome Ramazan Conference’ was also held on the occasion.  

Addressing the audience, Dr Allama GR Chishti, Coordinator of United Religions Initiatives, Multi Cooperation Circles, Islamabad Capital Territory (URI MCCI ICT) said that the United Religions Initiative (URI) is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. “Therefore it has been decided to use this platform for resolution of problems faced by the community members of this area. Majority of the residents of the area comprises members of minorities including Christians whereas some Muslim and Hindu families also reside here. The area which falls under UC 21 resembles like a downtrodden slum and we are quite dejected at this situation,” he added. 

He said that located along Islamabad Expressway only few kilometres from Zero Point our area comprises Father Colony, Salvation Army Colony, Christian Colony, Chashma Town, Iqbal Town, Raja Nizamuddin Town. This area is overall called New Sohan and dilapidated roads in this area have become more troublesome for residents of the area as sewage coming from Dhoke Kala Khan just on the opposite side of these localities enters these downtown areas, and as all these localities lack a proper drainage system this sewage inundates these broken roads causing more inconvenience to the residents of the area. On plea of the residents of the area I took it upon myself to raise the issue with city administration from the URI platform. In my meeting with Deputy Commissioner Captain (r) Mushtaq Ahmed, I raised the problems faced by the New Sohan. He assured of the resolution of the problems of the area soon. Similarly I met Chief Commissioner Zulfiqar Haider and raised the same problems before him,” he said. 

However, Dr Chshti said that UC 21 Chairman Malik Amir on self help basis has initiated work on filling up the ditches developed on the roads of the area. “But this is not the only problem faced by the residents of the area. People of the area who are dependent upon personal boring for water in their homes are also suffering because water boring is getting drier with water level in this area falling drastically. Therefore the area residents gather at the well of the Jamia Masjid Mai Saleem Akhtar to get water. This area lacks a proper water supply system at state level and we are determined to raise this issue and call upon all local and global organizations to play their role in provision of clean drinking water supply system to the minorities of this area,” he bemoaned.  

Other speakers also expressed their dejection at the plight of the area and assured Dr Chishti of their all out support in raising the problems of the area at different levels for its development.