By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Fresh concerns have emerged over the alleged use of public land and green-belt areas around Centaurus Mall for vehicle parking, with motorists being charged parking fees.
A parking receipt dated September 1, 2026, provided to World Tribune, shows a Rs100 charge for a car at “Centaurus Mall, 4 Jinnah Avenue, F-8/4, Islamabad.” The receipt states that the amount is collected as “rent for the parking space” and provides a RAAST QR code for payment.
However, the receipt itself does not establish whether the particular parking space is a green belt, whether Centaurus Mall controls it, or whether the Rs100 collection is unauthorized.
Those points would require confirmation from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), MCI and the parking operator.
The controversy has a documented history. A 2015-16 audit report cited by Dawn alleged that Centaurus had encroached upon more than 40 kanals of CDA land, valued at around Rs10 billion at the time, and was using the land for parking.
CDA also carried out anti-encroachment operations around Centaurus in 2017 and 2019.
At the same time, the legal and administrative status of parking around the mall has changed over the years. In 2020, an officially auctioned public parking facility adjacent to Centaurus was operating with approved parking charges.
More recently, the Islamabad High Court has been hearing a challenge concerning parking charges on CDA-owned land in the New Blue Area; MCI has maintained that fees are being collected under the CDA Parking Regulations 2023 at designated parking facilities.
The latest receipt therefore raises a key question for the civic authorities: Is the location where Rs100 is currently being collected an officially designated parking facility, or does it include green-belt/public land not authorized for commercial parking?
CDA and MCI should clarify the exact boundaries of the authorized parking area, identify the contractor or entity collecting the Rs100 fee, and disclose the legal authorization under which the charges are being imposed.
