RAWALPINDI: Raja Bazaar, the main commercial hub of the garrison city, and Commercial Market in Satellite Town are set to take on a new look from next month as work on pedestrian streets nears completion.

Visitors will be able to walk from Fawara Chowk to Dingi Khoi on Hamilton Road and in Commercial Market without the noise of rickshaws and cars passing by.

The two most recognisable marketplaces in the garrison city are expected to become tourist attractions and showcase the culture of the Potohar region.

In the past, cart pushers sold fruits, sunglasses, baseball caps, second-hand garments and other items on the roads of these bazaars. Footpaths and verandas were encroached upon by shopkeepers, while uncovered electric wires hanging from lampposts posed a threat to residents.

However, over the last year, the district administration has transformed these areas into car-free zones to beautify Raja Bazaar and Commercial Market, attract tourists and provide visitors with a more comfortable shopping environment.

The district administration closed the road from Fawara Chowk to Dingi Khoi in February 2025, and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) started work on the project at a cost of Rs470 million.

Under the scheme, electric, telephone and internet cables have been laid underground, old lampposts replaced, benches installed, separate washrooms for men and women constructed, old buildings restored, green plants added and shop signboards redesigned to improve the overall appearance of the bazaar.

Although visitors and shopkeepers faced difficulties during the construction work over the past year, the beautification project is now taking shape and attracting people to spend their evenings in the area.

Walking from Fawara Chowk to Hamilton Road, visitors can now see buildings with a refreshed appearance. The RMC has also developed sitting areas surrounded by flower beds and trees.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema told Dawn that converting Raja Bazaar into a pedestrian street had permanently addressed three major issues: encroachments, the problem of dangling electricity, telephone and internet wires, and the overall appearance of the bazaar.

He said the purpose of the initiative was to facilitate pedestrian movement, minimise accidents and improve air quality.

“By transforming this location into a walking street, the government is addressing not only the issue of mobility but also tackling environmental concerns,” he said.

He said the pedestrian street would provide residents with better recreational opportunities within the city limits.

“Raja Bazaar is visited by people from Jhelum, Attock and Azad Jammu and Kashmir for shopping, and it will now provide them with a better environment,” he said.

Dr Cheema said the project had been a difficult task as electricity and telephone cables had to be laid underground, while new water supply and sewerage lines were also installed.

“It took a year, but the area has acquired a new look for the first time in the history of the garrison city,” he said.

Following the successful beautification of the two areas, Dr Cheema said the district administration planned to improve more bazaars and streets in the city during the 2026-27 fiscal year.

“We have selected Sabzi Mandi, Bazaar Talwaran, Urdu Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar and Mochi Bazaar, while work will also begin in Sadiqabad. By the end of this year, people will see a different garrison city - neat, clean and green,” he said.

RMC Municipal Officer Rafaqat Gondal told Dawn that the project cost Rs450 million. Of this amount, Rs170 million was provided to Iesco for underground electricity cables, Rs50 million to WASA for relocation of water lines, while Rs250 million was spent by the RMC on beautification and the construction of roads, footpaths and drains.

Regarding the Commercial Market Satellite Town pedestrian street, Mr Gondal said beautification work worth Rs370 million would be completed by the end of June.

“Gates have been installed at both ends of the road. Durable tiles have been laid, decorative lampposts installed and benches placed for visitors,” he said.

He added that the road would remain closed to vehicles from morning until 10pm and would reopen at night to allow traders to load and unload goods for their shops.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026