ISLAMABAD: City managers, who are focusing on mega development projects, have failed to honour their commitment of re-drawing zebra crossings in the federal capital.

The zebra crossings in Islamabad have been vanishing from various roads or are barely visible, causing difficulty for pedestrians.

In January this year, when Dawn pointed out this issue, CDA’s spokesperson had stated that work on re-drawing zebra crossing would start in a few weeks and “people will feel the difference”. But till now, nothing has happened.

Nazir Ali, a resident of G-6 sector who was crossing a faded zebra crossing in Melody Market, said: “Look at the level of this zebra crossing; motorists have no idea about it and therefore put the lives of people at risk.”

Despite repeated assurances, work has yet to begin; pedestrians at risk from speeding vehicles

Another pedestrian Asghar Khan, while pointing towards Aabpara Chowk, said in the past, there were proper zebra crossings, which have vanished with the passage of time.

“CDA has been executing multi-billion road projects in Islamabad, but has not been paying heed to this basic road feature [zebra crossing],” Asghar Khan said.

“Construction of underpasses and flyovers are necessary to ease traffic flow, but at the same time, the CDA should ensure protection of the rights of pedestrians,” he said, adding that in other countries pedestrians could even stop traffic through automated signals to cross roads, but here in Islamabad, motorists do not stop their vehicles for pedestrians in the absence of proper zebra crossing stripes.

In many areas of the capital, zebra crossings had faded while on some roads markings highlighting speed jumps have also gone missing, increasing road hazards. Zebra crossings are drawn on traffic signals with bright colours, preferably yellow and white for pedestrians’ convenience. When a traffic light goes red, motorists are supposed to stop their vehicles behind the stripes to allow pedestrians to cross the road.

In January this year, the then CDA spokesperson, Shahid Kiani, had toldDawnthat the civic agency was going to conduct a survey of city roads to address the issue. He had quoted a member of the civic body’s engineering wing as saying that the exercise was expected to be completed within two weeks. “The civic agency is aware of this issue and soon people will feel the difference,” he had said.

Capital police spokesperson Taqi Jawad had also stated in January that lane markings and zebra crossings were important for pedestrians’ safety and to ensure smooth flow of traffic. “Since the CDA deals with such issues, you should contact them to get their point of view,” he had said.

When contacted, the new CDA spokesperson said the impression that zebra crossings across Islamabad have not been marked is incorrect. The CDA takes immediate action whenever there is report of fading zebra crossings, and marks them afresh.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025