How to Complain to CDA in Islamabad About Sewerage, Water and Street Lights

Short answer: To complain to CDA in Islamabad about sewerage, sanitation, water, roads or street lights, call the Public Grievance Cell on 051-9253016 or 051-9252962, or email cdacares@cda.gov.pk with photos attached. The cell works Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, and handles CDA and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad complaints.

A blocked sewer in an Islamabad sector does not wait for office hours. But the person who can fix it works at a desk with a phone number, and many residents do not know which number. Calling the wrong office is the main reason a complaint dies.

We read CDA's contact page and its procedures page on 13 October 2026. Both are undated, so numbers can change. We did not call the numbers or send a test complaint, and we say below what we could not confirm.

One cell takes complaints for CDA and the Metropolitan Corporation

CDA's contact page names a Public Grievance Cell for queries and complaints about both the Capital Development Authority and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad. It lists two phone numbers, one email and working hours of 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

The page says that a file attachment can be emailed directly to the same inbox. So send photos of the problem, such as a broken pipe or a dead light, in the first email.

CDA accepts six kinds of municipal complaint

CDA's procedures page says it registers municipal complaints about sewerage, sanitation, environment, road maintenance, water supply or tanker service, and street lights. A complaint outside these six, such as a building dispute, belongs with a different CDA directorate.

Each type has a directorate behind it. The page lists the Sanitation directorate on 051-9203216, Municipal Administration on 051-9252838, and the Environment and Disaster Management directorate on 051-9252842. You can call the directorate directly if the cell does not answer.

The last row is our reading.

CDA lists the complaint types and the directorate numbers on the same page but does not match every type to one number. Start with the cell and let it route the case.

A good complaint has five facts

Write the sector and street, the exact spot, what is wrong, how long it has been wrong and a photo. A complaint with those five facts gives CDA what it needs to send a team, and it leaves less room for a vague reply.

1. Name the sector, street and house number or nearest landmark.
2. Say what is wrong in one sentence, such as "sewer overflowing on the road".
3. Say how long it has lasted.
4. Attach one or two clear photos.
5. Add your name and a phone number, and keep a copy of what you sent.

CDA does not publish a time limit for replying. Note the date you sent it. If a week passes, call the cell and quote that date. The PAK app also lists CDA services, and the page on CDA and MCI services on the PAK app shows what is available there.

Water bills and connection problems have their own routes

If your complaint is about a water bill, CDA's website offers a duplicate bill service using your consumer number. If it is about a new water connection, you apply through One Window Operation, not through the grievance cell.

For paying property tax or water bills online, the steps are in the page on paying CDA property tax and water bills. For rules on rain water, see the CDA rainwater harvesting rule.

A complaint about a neighbour building without approval is a different matter. CDA's Enforcement and Building Control offices handle illegal construction. For illegal housing schemes, CDA's public notices dated 9 October 2026 announce sealing of scheme offices. Read how CDA seals and demolishes illegal schemes for that route.

Emergencies go to 1122, not the grievance cell

For a life-threatening problem, such as a road accident, burns, stroke, heart trouble or loss of consciousness, CDA's FAQ says to call 1122 at the CARES Center, Capital Hospital. CDA says it sends the nearest medic unit to reach the site within 7 minutes.

The grievance cell is for service problems, and it is closed on weekends. The 1122 number is for emergencies. CDA lists the qualifying emergencies as road accident, gunshot and bomb blast, burns, stroke, acute heart and breathing problems, loss of consciousness, confusion, severe intoxication and any life-threatening problem.

We did not test the 1122 response time, and we cannot say it will always be met. The figure is CDA's own claim.

Common questions

What is the CDA complaint number?

CDA's Public Grievance Cell lists 051-9253016 and 051-9252962. The main office line is 051-9252573.

What is the CDA complaint email?

The email is cdacares@cda.gov.pk. CDA says you can attach files to it.

What hours does the grievance cell work?

It works 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Which problems does CDA register as municipal complaints?

Sewerage, sanitation, environment, road maintenance, water supply or tanker, and street lights.

Who do I call for a sanitation problem?

CDA lists the Sanitation directorate on 051-9203216.

Can I call 1122 through CDA?

Yes. CDA says anyone facing a listed emergency can call 1122 at the CARES Center, Capital Hospital.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read CDA's contact page, procedures page and frequently asked questions page. We did not call any number or send a complaint, and CDA publishes no reply time.