Chaos grips Islamabad’s Red Zone amid rampant illegal parking

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad, the federal capital known for its orderly traffic and strict enforcement of laws, is now facing a severe parking crisis in one of its most sensitive and important area — the Red Zone.

The Pak Secretariat, home to the country’s top ministries in the Red Zone, is witnessing acute parking shortages and routine violations of traffic regulations.

No parking for visitors — not even for officials

The Pak Secretariat is among those places that witness daily footfall in the thousands, including government officials, employees, and petitioners. Yet, astonishingly, there are no proper parking facilities for either visitors or government employees. As a result, vehicles are frequently parked on footpaths, at building entrances, and in designated “no parking” areas.

Even government vehicles flout the law

What’s more concerning is that it’s not just private citizens violating the rules. Official government vehicles with green number plates, including those belonging to senior bureaucrats, are regularly seen committing the same violations.

Also read: Rangers to be deployed in Islamabad’s Red Zone

This situation is particularly prevalent around key ministries like the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance and the Planning Commission. The resulting congestion hampers traffic flow and blocks critical entry points — raising serious security concerns.

Speaking to HUM News English, SSP Traffic Zeeshan Haider said: “We have taken up this issue with the Capital Development Authority (CDA). A new parking facility near the Pak Secretariat is under development, which will accommodate around 500 vehicles. Additionally, valet parking services will also be introduced.”

The haphazard state of parking is not only causing inconvenience to citizens but has also alarmed security agencies. In a high-security area like the Red Zone, unauthorized and unregulated parking could severely hamper emergency response operations during any untoward incident.

In a capital like Islamabad, where rule of law is expected to be strictly upheld, such negligence can escalate into a national-level concern. The government and relevant authorities must take immediate and serious action to address the issue.