Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched the city's first digital car parking system in G-8 Markaz, marking a significant advancement in urban management and aiming to enhance the efficiency of parking operations across the capital.

According to Zameen.Com, the new system was inaugurated by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, who detailed the initiative's broader implications for local commerce and traffic flow. During the initial launch phase, the service will be offered free of charge for the first 10 days to help residents adapt to the digital payment mechanisms, which include options like credit and debit cards, QR codes, and cash deposits through machines.

The digital parking system's rollout will continue with installations at other major locations such as the Centaurus Mall parking lot and the F-7 sector by September 25. Plans are in place to expand the service to other commercial areas, including the upcoming Blue Area parking plaza.

A joint venture between Pakistani and Chinese firms holds the project's five-year contract, with revenue sharing set at 75% for CDA and 25% for the contractor. Additionally, parking will be free for the first 15 minutes to accommodate brief stops.

This digital shift comes in the wake of an audit that exposed significant corruption and mismanagement within the CDA’s Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), which had previously overseen manual parking fee collections. Findings from a 2022 audit revealed that not only were parking fees at major sites like Shakarparian and Daman-i-Koh improperly managed, but there were also fraudulent practices concerning the issuance of parking tickets, leading to a loss exceeding PKR 82 million.

The introduction of the digital parking system is expected to close these loopholes, allowing for real-time tracking of parking fees and ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the collection process.