ISLAMABAD: The Blue Area parking plaza project has become a major source of disruption in the capital after remaining unfinished for more than two years past its July 2023 deadline. The delay has led to blocked service roads, parking shortages, and severe traffic congestion in the heart of Islamabad’s commercial district.
Letters sent by Nayatel highlight the seriousness of the issue. On November 21, 2024, the company’s CEO Wahaj Siraj wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying that the situation reflects poorly on Islamabad when foreign investors and dignitaries visit. Similarly, in a letter to CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa dated October 10, 2024, Nayatel reported “severe disruptions” for its 900 employees and customers.
The removal of temporary parking spaces by the Islamabad Traffic Police has further worsened the problem. Businesses in the area, including popular restaurants, complain that customers now avoid the locality due to the lack of parking, cutting into sales and intensifying peak-hour gridlocks.
Stakeholders note that complaints to CDA stretch back to March 2022, but little has been done to resolve the crisis. They are now calling for immediate clearance of occupied lanes and swift completion of the parking plaza to ease congestion and restore Blue Area’s accessibility.
Meta description: Businesses and commuters in Islamabad’s Blue Area face daily disruption as parking plaza project remains unfinished two years after its deadline.