Rawalpindi: The Punjab government has approved plans to construct a multi-storey parking plaza at Jinnah Park to tackle the chronic parking chaos around Katchery Chowk and nearby roads.

According to officials, the long-awaited project will be built on a vacant portion of land within Jinnah Park and will accommodate more than 1,000 vehicles. The initiative is part of the Katchery Chowk remodeling scheme and is aimed at easing congestion on key arteries such as Mushtaq Baig Road, Jhelum Road, and the Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

A senior official of the Punjab Highways Department said the plaza would cover around eight kanals, comprising a basement and three upper floors. “The parking facility will provide a secure and organized space for vehicles, helping clear the roads currently choked by roadside parking,” he said.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs1.25 billion, and the summary is in the final stages of approval. The department has set a one-year completion timeline and plans to synchronize construction with the ongoing Katchery Chowk remodeling works.

The official said that two flyovers and three underpasses are already under construction at Katchery Chowk and Jinnah Park, with a traffic diversion plan in place to manage flow during the development phase.

He assured that preserving the park’s horticultural and recreational value would remain a top priority and that the project would ultimately enhance Jinnah Park’s overall environment.

Frequent gridlocks caused by unregulated parking outside the district courts and nearby government offices have long plagued central Rawalpindi. Officials hope the new parking plaza will provide a lasting solution to one of the city’s most persistent traffic problems.