Public Hostel Closures Add to Women’s Housing Woes

APP

Islamabad: The shortage of adequate hostels for women in Islamabad has become a pressing concern for working women, compounded by the substandard conditions of private accommodations and the inaction of authorities to construct more public-sector hostels, despite the availability of land.

The closure of the Nusrat Hostel in Sector G-6/3, a once-reliable facility with 50 rooms for women employed in public-sector departments, has worsened the crisis. The hostel was recently repurposed by the Ministry of Human Rights as a Model Child Welfare Centre, leaving many women without essential accommodation options.

An official of a working women’s hostel in Sector G-7, which is currently non-functional, stressed the urgent need for intervention. “Low-income women workers, unable to afford exorbitant rents charged by private hostels, are left with limited choices,” the representative said.

Haseena Bibi, a working woman, shared her plight: “I had no choice but to share a private room, paying Rs. 15,000 per month from my meagre salary, leaving little to support my family.”

Women’s organizations have called for immediate action to establish more government-run hostels in the capital, offering affordable and safe accommodations with basic amenities to meet the growing demand.

Shamim Hassan, another working woman, highlighted the challenges faced by those migrating to Islamabad for work. “The lack of suitable public-sector accommodations forces many women to endure high rents and unsatisfactory living conditions,” she said.

This housing crisis demands urgent attention from the authorities to ensure that working women in the federal capital have access to safe, affordable, and quality living spaces, enabling them to pursue their careers without undue hardship.