ISLAMABAD: After remaining silent spectator, the city managers are finally considering ‘valet parking service’ as an option for Pak Secretariat’s parking problems.

The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has decided to outsource valet parking services at the Pakistan Secretariat — a step that officials say aims to bring long-overdue order to one of the capital’s most congested government zones.

The Pakistan Secretariat, housing key federal ministries, remains the nerve centre of bureaucratic activity. Yet, its parking disorder has been a persistent administrative failure. Narrow approach roads, haphazardly parked vehicles, and unchecked roadside encroachments have long tested both government staff and visitors, creating bottlenecks and security risks.

Recent months have seen a growing realization within civic and administrative circles that conventional parking arrangements no longer suffice. Despite the Capital Development Authority (CDA) developing a new parking facility accommodating over 1,000 vehicles near the Secretariat, the chaos persists. On most working days, officials, drivers, and visitors still struggle to find space, often resorting to double parking or blocking service lanes.

Officials at MCI say the new valet system is intended to “maximize efficiency and discipline,” using modern tools such as electronic ticketing, structured vehicle flow, and centralized supervision. The system would allow authorized attendants to manage space dynamically — a departure from the current first-come-first-serve practice that often leads to disorder.

Urban management experts see this move as part of a broader trend: Islamabad’s gradual shift from manual, department-run parking to professionalized management systems, similar to those at airports, luxury hotels, and hospitals. “If executed transparently and efficiently, valet management can become a model for other government complexes,” a senior CDA official told Infra News PK.

However, observers warn that the real test lies in implementation. The Secretariat’s unique mix of ministries, heavy daily footfall, and high-security restrictions can complicate coordination between different departments. Moreover, past outsourcing efforts have suffered from weak oversight, leading to poor service quality and revenue leakages.

Still, the MCI’s renewed effort signals growing administrative awareness that parking is not just a logistical issue but a symbol of governance discipline. A properly managed valet system, coupled with enforcement against illegal parking, could finally restore order in one of Islamabad’s most important — and most chaotic — government complexes.