LETTER: According to a Business Recorder news item, the Supreme Court has been urged to direct the development authorities in the provinces to prepare master plans of all the big cities, and strictly adhere to them for future expansion.

It is needless to state that successive governments have grossly underestimated the extent of problems the absence of master plans can create for the populace and civic authorities. Moreover, no city should be allowed to expand itself without a duly-approved master plan. After all, a master plan is a document that provides clear directions for future growth and development. Islamabad came into existence on the basis of a master plan, unfortunately, however, its long-term planning document has been violated with impunity under every government. According to Capital Development Authority (LDA), there are 12 katchi abadis in Islamabad and the population of these informal settlements exceeds 100,000.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020