Rawalpindi roads reveal a deeper crisis in civic governance

On any given day, driving through Rawalpindi is a test of patience. Pothole-riddled lanes in the inner city to incomplete road works near newly planned projects, the city’s road network offers a telling snapshot of the broader dysfunction in civic administration.

“While some areas like the cantonment zones boast relatively well-maintained roads, the vast majority of city areas have poorly executed repairs. You do not need a report to assess civic governance in Rawalpindi. Just drive around,” says Farooq Hasan a school van driver from Dhoke Hassu.

“Road maintenance in Rawalpindi is under the jurisdiction of multiple agencies, including the RMC, RDA, and the Cantonment Boards. This overlapping authority has created a patchwork approach to infrastructure development, with better results in some areas and visible neglect in others,” says Tahir Naqvi.

“The cantonment areas like Chaklala and Westridge are better maintained because of stricter oversight and a different governance model. But in RMC zones, bureaucratic delays, budget constraints, and poor contractor accountability hinder progress,” says an RDA official.

“Residents in areas like Committee Chowk and Raja Bazaar frequently complain about repeated digging and patchwork that seems to resurface every few months. Critics say the city suffers from reactive, short-term fixes instead of sustained infrastructure planning,” says Mumtaz Alvi.

“Once a road is built, you can be sure it’ll be dug up within weeks — either by SNGPL, Wasa, or some other utility. There’s no coordination, and no one is held responsible for the damage,” says Shazia Haider from Banni Chowk.

“Large-scale infrastructure projects like the Rawalpindi Ring Road and Metro Bus have done little to boost public confidence. Though presented as game-changers, both projects have faced controversies,” says Fizza Ali.

“Civil society groups argue that these mega projects often prioritize optics over actual urban needs. While the elite corridors see improvement, lower-income neighborhoods continue to grapple with broken roads, poor drainage, and flooding during rains,” says Samina Zaidi.

“Civic participation in road planning remains minimal. Complaints filed with the municipal helpline often go unanswered, and there is no public consultation before initiating works that deeply affect them,” adds Samina.

“Most of us only find out a road is being dug up when we hear the machinery outside our gates. There’s no notice, no timeline, and rarely any follow-up,” says Tariq Hussain, a resident of Satellite Town.

“Rawalpindi’s road conditions serve not just as a traffic concern but as a barometer of public service delivery. The state of the city’s infrastructure reflects wider issues: disjointed governance, underfunded civic institutions, and limited accountability,” adds Tariq.

Iftikhar Hussain says, “As the city continues to expand, the need for coherent urban planning and community-driven development becomes more urgent. For now, however, residents continue to navigate not just the roads — but also the failures they symbolize.”