ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched work on a Rs240 million project to transform a stretch of Islamabad’s Blue Area into a car-free pedestrian zone, featuring food outlets, digital installations, and walking streets.
The project, being executed by the CDA’s engineering wing, covers the area from Savour Foods to Khyber Plaza along Jinnah Avenue. The section will be closed to all vehicles and redesigned as a pedestrian-only space where people can walk, dine, and shop in a lively environment.
To address parking needs, visitors will be accommodated in the nearby multi-storey parking plaza, which has capacity for around 950 vehicles. An additional 150 parking spaces will also be available in front of Khyber Plaza, opposite the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
CDA officials said the pedestrian zone will stretch about 800 metres and serve as a pilot project, which will later be replicated in Jinnah Super Market and other commercial centres across the capital. Electric carts will be provided for elderly visitors and children, while digital screens at entry and exit points will display entertainment and public information.
“We have started the work, and it will be completed within 45 days,” a CDA official said, adding that the design was finalised after consultation with traders to ensure the project aligns with Blue Area’s commercial activity.
Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza said the project aims to provide citizens with a modern “walk-and-shop” experience. “This is an ideal place for a food street and family recreation. We plan to complete the project, including lighting, within two months,” he said. He added that the initiative was launched on the directions of the interior minister and the CDA chairman to improve recreational facilities in the capital.
Islamabad currently has only one food street, the Melody Food Park, which has struggled to attract visitors due to parking and maintenance issues despite recent beautification efforts supported by the Azerbaijani government.
Separately, the CDA also plans to develop “Capital Street” near Shakarparian, adjacent to the Art and Craft Village. The project will feature restaurants, art workshops, an expo hall, and recreational facilities, though construction there has not yet begun.
