The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has come under criticism after imposing a Rs. 100 parking fee in Islamabad’s extended Blue Area.
Residents say the new charge is creating problems for ordinary citizens, patients, visitors, and businesses that depend on easy access to the commercial district.
Designed for Public Access
The extended Blue Area was originally developed as a modern commercial zone with public facilities such as hotels, hospitals, cafés, restaurants, and corporate offices.
For years, families, tourists, office workers, and patients could visit the area without paying parking charges. The new Rs. 100 fee per visit has changed that arrangement and triggered public concern.
Patients Face Additional Burden
The policy has raised particular concern for hospitals and medical centres operating in the area.
Patients and attendants, many of whom are already dealing with high medical expenses, now have to pay parking charges on every visit. For people who need regular treatment or repeated consultations, the fee is seen as an avoidable financial burden.
Businesses Report Lower Footfall
Business owners, especially those running cafés, coffee shops, and small commercial outlets, have also expressed concern over the impact of the parking fee.
Traders say many customers are now avoiding the area for short meetings or casual dining because of the parking charge. They say the decline in visitors is adding pressure on businesses already facing rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Residents Question CDA Planning
Residents have also questioned CDA’s planning priorities and regulatory oversight.
Critics say commercial buildings, plazas, hotels, and hospitals should have been required to provide proper parking facilities before receiving construction approvals.
They argue that many buildings in the extended Blue Area were allegedly allowed to operate without sufficient parking arrangements, leaving visitors to bear the cost through paid parking.
This is crazy, even going to pick up an order you have to pay to get there
Ridiculous !
CDA must be ashamed to collect such unjustified toll taxes, why such tax on visitors? Get money from plaza owners instead public.
CDA find some proper halal way to grab money
Dismiss the current CDA Chairman. Listen to the public outcry on various matters. The days of the present government are numbered.
I have stopped going to the shops under the hammer of CDA parking charges of Rs. 100/= beyond 10 minutes parking!
OK. but illegal car parking mening car show rooms specially all markaz in islamabad imposed rs.500 per day every car .increase the govt revenue.
I go to Attack pump from F-10 and I have stopped doing that because they don’t allow me to use New Blue Area Service Road without paying Rs 100.
I go to Attack pump from F-10 and I have stopped doing that because they don’t allow me to use New Blue Area Service Road without paying Rs 100.
Mostly in commercial area’s,there is paid
Parking.Even airports , concerned authorities provide parking and charged.
Those are not for open public places. This is a service road of a commercial area which is already developed and maintained by tax money. No special work is required to make and maintain it. People are suppose to park there. Government’s charge for places that create congestion so that they reduce the car parking in certain areas or when governments go extra mile to make them. It’s not that if you go to England u have to pay whereever your park, or you are in local sector markaz and u pay there.
This is simple might is right concept, first create a want then start charging.
CDA is acting like Dubai. First give basic necessities. Allow businesses to grow. It would have been better to charge plaza owners….Andher nagri…