Traders in Saddar have urged the federal government to make adequate parking space mandatory before approving new commercial plazas in Rawalpindi Cantonment.
They said the shortage of parking has become a major problem in Saddar, particularly after Bank Road was converted into a pedestrian-only street and vehicle access was restricted.
General Secretary of Markazi Anjuman Tajran Rawalpindi Cantonment Zaffar Qadri said the move has made it difficult for customers to access the main commercial area, while existing plazas also lack sufficient parking facilities.
He said parking is not allowed on the main road, leaving visitors dependent on spaces available along Kashmir Road, Haider Road and Adamjee Road.
The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has also allocated two parking areas in Saddar, including one at Haider Road near the Metro Bus station and another in front of Ceros Cinema. Their combined capacity is around 700 vehicles.
However, traders say the available facilities are not enough to meet the demand generated by the large number of shops, commercial plazas and visitors in the area.
Qadri said parking facilities inside major commercial buildings, including Rania Mall and others, have also become less useful since vehicles are no longer allowed to enter Bank Road.
He added that despite the shortage, new commercial plazas continue to receive construction approvals without adequate parking arrangements.
According to traders, the lack of parking and poor accessibility have discouraged customers from visiting Saddar, resulting in financial losses for businesses.
The traders’ association has demanded that no new commercial shops or plaza building plans be approved until the RCB and the federal government either allocate sufficient land for public parking or construct modern parking plazas.
Traders have also called for parking facilities along the pedestrian stretch from Cantonment Police Station Road to Murree Road.
Qadri accused RCB officials of ignoring the issue and called on the federal government to intervene.
He said a traders’ delegation also wants to meet the cantonment executive officer and the RCB president to seek a solution in the interest of traders, customers and the general public.
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