Residents of Gulistan Colony, Lahore are enduring a critical civic emergency marked by a complete collapse of the sewerage system and persistent water shortages. Stagnant, contaminated water is overflowing into streets, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and raising urgent public health concerns—including heightened risks of malaria, typhoid, and gastrointestinal infections. The crisis was significantly worsened by heavy rainfall—32 mm recorded in early April 2026—which overwhelmed already deteriorating infrastructure. Despite repeated complaints, authorities have yet to implement meaningful repairs or sanitation interventions.

On February 5, 2026, two men—Usman Zaheer and Muhammad Siyaam—were fatally shot at Gulzar Market, Gulistan Colony Lane 3 in Rawalpindi (note: while geographically in Rawalpindi, this colony shares the same name and is frequently conflated with Lahore’s Gulistan Colony in local reporting). Police recovered a pistol at the scene and identified the motive as a financial dispute; both victims worked as stamp vendors at courts. The incident underscores deteriorating law-and-order conditions amid broader civic neglect.

Residents have repeatedly raised alarms about commercial plazas in Gulistan Colony dumping construction debris and waste directly onto colony roads, worsening traffic congestion and hygiene conditions. A Facebook post from October 2025 documented multiple failed requests to the Borjan manager for cleanup, prompting appeals to Saaf Suthra Punjab and city administration. The issue reflects systemic governance gaps, where municipal agencies collect millions monthly yet fail to enforce waste disposal regulations or hold private developers accountable.