City roads cripple daily life in key neighborhoods

For residents of Dhoke Kala Khan, Muslim Town, Sadiqabad, and adjoining areas, navigating the city’s broken roads has become a daily test of patience, safety, and endurance. What used to be simple commutes have now turned into bumpy, frustrating, and often dangerous journeys due to the crumbling infrastructure and lack of official attention.

“In Dhoke Kala Khan, the main service road that links to the Expressway is in shambles — littered with potholes, broken patches, and open manholes. With rainwater collecting in the damaged sections, accidents have become frequent. Just last week, a motorcyclist slipped into a pothole filled with water and fractured his leg. We’ve complained many times, but no one comes to inspect,” says Muhammad Hussain, a shopkeeper who has operated in the area for over two decades.

“Residents of Muslim Town and Sadiqabad face similar challenges. Roads leading to the main Murree Road are riddled with broken asphalt and frequent waterlogging due to blocked drains. In peak hours, traffic grinds to a halt, as vehicles slow to navigate damaged portions. It takes me over 30 minutes just to reach the Expressway, which is hardly a 5-minute drive,” says Saima Ali, a schoolteacher who commutes daily from Muslim Town to Faizabad.

“Encroachments in commercial zones such as Commercial Market in Satellite Town and Raja Bazaar in downtown Rawalpindi add to the chaos. Illegally parked vehicles, roadside vendors, and unchecked construction leave little space for vehicles or pedestrians. The road outside Committee Chowk has basically become a single lane now. Every day there’s some sort of traffic mess because of double parking or a broken patch that hasn’t been fixed for months,” says Hamza Abbas, a delivery rider.

“Despite repeated appeals, the response from civic authorities has been lukewarm. Officials from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR) claim they are short on funds. We have submitted proposals for road rehabilitation in key urban sectors, but without budget approval from the provincial government, progress is stalled,” says Fida Hussain, an RDA official, requesting anonymity.