High house rents beyond poor’s reach in twin cities

ISLMABAD—The people living in rented house and apartments in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are facing great difficulties due to high rents.
The people of Murree, Muzaffarabad, Swat, Kalam, Kohistan, Gilgit and some other areas often rush to the twin cities to avoid the chilly weather in the winter season but the high rents are too high and beyond their approach. The owners of houses very well cash the season and offer very high rents to these people. The present rent of two beds flat or a portion of house in Rawalpindi ranges from Rs6,000 to Rs7,000 per month at normal localities and in Islamabad Rs8,000 to Rs40 ,000.
In addition to this the owners of the house also demand security money in advance thus making it difficult for these people to have a two-bed accommodation for winter. Thousands of people living in rented houses in the twin cities. The rent of houses are unaffordable for them, but with the arrival of winter-stricken people the owners demand more rent from the people and even threaten them to vacate the houses.

—Agencies