ISLAMABAD: The residents of G-13 and G-14 sectors are in a constant state of confusion as two organisations - the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) - are simultaneously demanding property taxes from them.

“This avoidable duplication is causing confusion and anxiety in G-13/14 residents,” says Ambassador Javed Hafeez who has lived in the sector since 2010. Mr Hafeez said the situation reflected total lack of coordination between the two organisations of the same government.

Another resident said there are several precedents in the country that police and other government departments over a little doubt on boundaries were seen contesting each other over jurisdiction of an area, union councils, towns by saying that a particular area does not fall in their limit.

But, here in Islamabad both FGEHA and MCI for the sake of collection of taxes claim jurisdiction, he said, adding that, “this is strange, we wish all government organisations work with the same spirit and principle for providing facilities to residents”.

Former envoy says situation reflects lack of coordination between both organisations

Several residents shared copies of property tax notices issued by the MCI and FGEHA.

G-13 and G-14 sectors of Islamabad were developed by the erstwhile Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation two decades ago. The foundation was elevated to the status of authority in 2020 and started collecting property tax from residents.

Residents said a turf war had started between the CDA ,which previously collected this tax, and FGEHA.

According to the residents, both Islamabad High Court and Wafaqi Mohtsib were of the opinion that the housing authority could collect property tax since it performed municipal functions in these sectors. For the last six years, the residents have paid the tax to the FGEHA. And now the MCI, which is an offshoot of CDA, is demanding the same tax.

“We are confused and bewildered,” said a government officer living in sector G-13.

Another resident objected to double taxation. He said services provided by the housing authority are totally inadequate. The law abiding residents were paying taxes to the municipal services provider. He particularly referred to water scarcity and housing authority’s non-serious attitude. “As a result, the tanker mafia was reaping huge profits,” he said.

A senior resident, who has been pursuing court cases, said the residents, most of them senior citizens, were tired of shuttling between government offices and courts to resolve problems not created by them.

When contacted, an officer of FGEHA, Faiz Umer Sial, told Dawn that both sectors belonged to FGEHA and “we provide all types of municipal services and thus we are supposed to collect taxes”. He said there is a litigation in this regard and FGEHA is pleading this case vigorously.

CDA/MCI director revenue Kashif Niaz said Local Government Act empowers MCI to levy property taxes.

He said provision of services had nothing to do with the property tax, as there are other charges levied for them.

To a query, he said as per his knowledge, Federal Ombudsman Office had given flexibility to

residents, stating that if they [residents] want to deposit tax with MCI they can and if they opt for FGEHA, it’s their choice.

It is relevant to note here that the CDA owned majority of sectors of Islamabad while FGEHA owns six sectors – G-13, G-14 (developed), under developed F-14 and F-15 while two other sectors undeveloped F-12 and G-12 also belong to this authority.

Since MCI, which was established in 2015-16, is an offshoot of CDA, many erstwhile directorates were placed under its administrative control. Both CDA and MCI share the revenue directorate which deals with taxes.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2026