Islamabad Gets First-Ever Car-Free Pedestrian-Only Zone

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated work on transforming a major stretch of Islamabad’s Blue Area into a vehicle-free pedestrian zone designed to promote leisure, dining, and digital engagement.

According to CDA officials, the project, valued at Rs. 240 million, extends from Savour Foods to Khyber Plaza along Jinnah Avenue. The development aims to create a space where citizens can walk, shop, and enjoy food in a safe, car-free environment.

The engineering wing of the civic agency has already begun civil work on the site. The upcoming pedestrian zone will stretch across approximately 800 metres and is planned as a “walk-and-shop” district, featuring food outlets, digital installations, and entertainment screens at both entry and exit points.

To manage traffic flow, visitors will be able to park their vehicles in the nearby multi-storey parking plaza, which offers 950 spaces, with an additional 150 spots located in front of Khyber Plaza, near the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

A CDA official stated that the project is expected to be completed within 45 days, noting that its design was finalized following consultations with Blue Area traders to ensure that commercial activity remains unaffected.

Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza described the project as an effort to provide residents with a new family-friendly public space.

“This is an ideal location for a food street and public recreation. Our goal is to complete the entire project, including lighting, within two months,” he stated.

He added that the initiative is being carried out under the guidance of the Interior Minister and the CDA Chairman, with the intention of enhancing Islamabad’s urban experience.

Currently, Islamabad’s only established food street is the Melody Food Park, which has faced challenges due to limited parking and maintenance issues.

The CDA plans to use the Blue Area project as a pilot model, which could later be replicated in Jinnah Super Market and other commercial hubs. The authority is also planning a separate entertainment and dining destination, Capital Street, near Shakarparian, adjacent to the Art and Craft Village, which will include restaurants, art studios, and an expo hall. However, development on that project has yet to begin.