ISLAMABAD – Rawalpindi’s parking issues long fuelled traffic congestion across its busiest commercial areas, leaving motorists struggling to find parking and commuters stuck in daily gridlock.
To ease the growing crisis, the district administration announced plans to build new parking plazas at key locations, including Murree Road, to improve traffic flow and reduce roadside parking.
From Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market to Jinnah Park, Bohar Bazaar, Banni Chowk, Circular Road and Murree Road, finding a parking space has become nearly impossible. Double-parking, illegal roadside parking and widespread encroachments continue to choke major roads, leaving motorists trapped in hours-long gridlock almost every day.
Pindi’s rapid population growth and ever-increasing number of vehicles outpaced its ageing road network. Narrow streets, inadequate off-street parking, poor traffic management and unchecked commercial encroachments have turned Rawalpindi’s busiest business districts into permanent congestion hotspots.
The situation is further worsoned by construction work, security-related road closures, damaged roads caused by sewerage and water supply issues, and poor waste management. Peak-hour traffic near hospitals, educational institutions and public spaces only adds to the pressure.
Acknowledging the growing crisis, the district administration has made traffic management and parking infrastructure a key priority for 2026. DC Rawalpindi Nadeem Nasir directed officials to identify suitable sites for multi-storey parking plazas in Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market and the Jinnah Park area. Assistant commissioners have been ordered to submit feasibility reports as authorities move to ease congestion in the city’s busiest commercial hubs.
The meeting also reviewed several other public development projects. Officials were instructed to identify land for a Sahulat Bazaar and a public park in Taxila and Wah, while healthcare facilities, including Rawalpindi Mother and Child Hospital, Rawat Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and Wah General Hospital, were reviewed for infrastructure improvements.
Other measures under consideration include opening school and college playgrounds for public use after hours, resolving the long-standing sewerage issue at Biscuit Factory Chowk, improving waste management and beautification efforts, and speeding up work on the Mahota Dam tourism project and the rehabilitation of Chakri Road.
Lahore to get over Dozen Parking Plazas at THESE Locations; full details here
