The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has faced backlash after the implementation of a Rs. 100 parking fee in the extended Blue Area of Islamabad.
Residents have now expressed that this new fee is causing difficulties for everyone in the city, including patients, visitors, and businesses that rely on convenient access to the commercial district.
This new policy by the CDA has particularly alarmed hospitals and medical centers operating within the nearby area.
Patients and their companions, especially those suffering from high medical bills, are now required to pay parking fees for each visit.
For individuals needing ongoing treatment or multiple consultations, this fee is now being seen as an unnecessary financial burden.
Businesses under pressure due to new parking fee policy
Patients in the capital aren’t the only ones who seem to be complaining about the new policy. Business owners, particularly those managing cafés, coffee shops, and small retail establishments, have voiced their concerns regarding the consequences of the parking fee.
According to traders, most customers are now choosing to avoid the area for brief meetings or casual dining due to the parking fee.
They claim that the major reduction in visitor numbers is intensifying the pressure on businesses that are already struggling with increasing costs and economic instability.
Previously, people in Islamabad from all walks of life such as families, tourists, office workers, and patients could access the area without paying parking fees.
Residents of the federal capital are increasingly becoming worried and frustrated with the new policy.
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