Peshawar: Arrival of IDPs leads to increase in house rent

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Dir, Swat and Buner has led to escalating house rents and has created a shortage of residential accommodation, particularly in the provincial capital.

Despite the fact that majority of the IDPs are arriving in camps in different parts of the province, some families are opting for rental accommodation. They are visiting big cities like Peshawar, Mardan and Nowshera to search for rental houses.

Keeping in view the demand, rents of houses have been raised from the last one week, while property dealers are also exploiting the situation. On one hand people are generously contributing to help the IDPs, on the other there are also some exploiting the situation for financial gains. Ironically those trying to thrive on miseries of the IDPs are not from the poor class, but middle and upper class or those associated with real estate businesses.

Due to the military operation, not only people of affected areas but those living far off are also migrating. However, in some areas due to imposed curfew those wanting to shift cannot move.

A number of families in Lower Dir while talking to The News said that they wanted to shift to Peshawar but the curfew had compelled them to move. Even families in Timergara, the district headquarters, were petrified and planning to move out of the district. “We are fed up with the situation. Shelling at Balambat has terrified our children and we immediately want to hire a house in Peshawar, Dilaram Khan, a local resident said.” He expressed fear that the situation might aggravate if the operation prolonged. Another family wishing to shift has also been stranded for last one week due to curfew.

Noor Khan Khattak, a property dealer, said that there was a shortage of rented houses and rents had increased. A two-room accommodation rent has increased to Rs8,000-10,000, while the rent for three to four-room houses has jumped to Rs15,000, that was previously available for Rs8,000, he added.

Same is the situation in Hayatabad where a sharp increase in rents has been observed, said Haroon Khan Shinwari. Rents have also recorded an increase in localities along Grand Trunk Road, a local resident Rafique said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=179006