Slum-dwellers fight for survival in harsh weather conditions

Islamabad: The harsh winter conditions are posing a real test to the residents of registered and non-registered slums, who are fighting for their survival in absence of basic facilities of life, including natural gas, the main source to thwart chilly weather.
“We have to face harsh weather conditions both in winter and summer in absence of basic facilities of life. It is not possible to use power heaters to keep our huts warm because it is not allowed due to fixed monthly power rates," said Asif Bhatti, a resident of slums located in Sector I-11. He said the government officials and policemen often visit the slum but they never pay any attention towards their problems and instead called them criminals and terrorists.
According to official data, there are 28 slums in Islamabad that are inhabited by more than 70,000 people living in sordid conditions. Under the Urban Shelter Programme, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) acknowledged only 10 slums for the provision of basic facilities as the national policy introduced by the government did not allow it to facilitate the dwellers of slums set up after March 1985. Some of the households in the slums have 15 to 30 members and they cannot think about hiring a house in the settled areas as no owner would rent them a place.
Yusuf Masih, a resident of French Colony in Sector F-7/4, said when Imran Khan and Dr. Tahirul Qadri staged sit-in at D-Chowk a large number of residents of the slums joined them in their protest because they thought these leaders would help resolve their problems.