CDA Launches Major Initiative to Make Islamabad Pakistan’s First Smart Digital City

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced plans to transform Islamabad into Pakistan’s first fully digital city. This initiative will introduce advanced traffic management, cashless transactions, and high-speed internet across the city.

On Tuesday, at the CDA Headquarters, a high-level meeting presided over by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa reached the decisions. The discussion, which assessed Islamabad’s digital transformation progress, was attended by senior officials and board members.

During the meeting, details of a tech-driven traffic management system were addressed. This system would include automated speed tracking, drone surveillance for real-time monitoring, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based congestion analysis using Google data.

In order to alleviate congestion at eleven key places, immediate action will be taken, while other areas will undergo long-term solution studies.

Islamabad is also moving towards a cashless economy to enhance transparency and ease transactions. Key initiatives include:

• QR code-based digital payments at businesses, restaurants, and shops
• Incentives for merchants to register digitally with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
• Pilot launch in Blue Area, Food Street, and Parking Plaza, where customers can choose between cash and digital payments

Free Wi-Fi plans for the city were also reviewed. All transactions involving the CDA’s One-Window system are now conducted digitally.

Chairman Randhawa stressed that Islamabad’s digitization would serve as a benchmark for the country.

He stated that the public will benefit from increased transparency and access to modern amenities enabled by digital payments and cashless systems. “We are committed to making CDA a fully digital institution in line with global standards.”