Rain Exposes I-9 Industrial Area’s Chronic Drainage Problem
Rainwater accumulation near Islamabad Dry Port renews longstanding concerns over drainage infrastructure and heavy-truck congestion in the capital’s I-9 industrial zone.
ISLAMABAD: Fresh concerns have emerged over drainage infrastructure in Islamabad’s I-9 Industrial Area after rainwater accumulated on roads in the industrial zone, prompting calls for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to develop a permanent storm-water drainage solution.
Water Accumulation Reported Near Dry Port
Video footage shared with Islamabad Tribune appears to show significant water accumulation on a road in the I-9 Industrial Area following rainfall.
The precise location, depth and duration of the waterlogging shown in the footage have not been independently verified.
The latest complaint focuses particularly on the road around the Islamabad Dry Port and the corridor between the I-9 and I-10 industrial sectors.
Industrial stakeholders argue that inadequate drainage allows rainwater to collect on roads, disrupting movement around factories, warehouses and commercial facilities.
Similar Problem Reported in 2024
The issue is not new.
In June 2024, The Express Tribune reported stagnant water near Margalla Dry Port in I-9, saying overflowing or clogged drains had resulted in water accumulating on the road.
The report cited affected industrialists and workers as saying complaints had repeatedly been made to CDA and that pumping out accumulated water provided only temporary relief rather than addressing the underlying drainage problem.
CDA itself identifies maintenance of drainage systems among the responsibilities of its Engineering Wing, while its sanitation operations also cover Islamabad’s industrial areas and include coordination for clearance of nullahs and waterways.
Industrial Roads Have Faced Longstanding Issues
Infrastructure concerns surrounding the industrial area and Dry Port Road have also persisted for years.
In 2015, representatives of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry called for urgent rehabilitation of the Dry Port main road and industrial-area roads, citing difficulties faced by heavy vehicles serving industrial and trade activity.
In 2021, the then CDA chairman said rehabilitation work had been initiated on roads in the I-9 and I-10 industrial areas, including Islamabad Dry Port Road.
Dry Port Also Raises Traffic Concerns
The second concern raised by industrial stakeholders relates to the location and operation of Islamabad Dry Port itself.
The facility at Margalla Railway Station has formally operated as a customs port for import and export clearance; an FBR notification defines its customs limits adjacent to the I-9/H-9 industrial-area corridor.
As Islamabad has expanded, industrial representatives have complained that heavy vehicles serving the Dry Port contribute to congestion.
During a 2022 meeting involving Islamabad Police and representatives of the industrial community, Islamabad Industrial Association President Zikaria Akbar Zia was reported as raising the issue of large vehicles parked along I-9 Dry Port Road and seeking measures to keep traffic moving.
Calls for Permanent Drainage Solution
Stakeholders behind the latest complaint are now calling for a permanent drainage network along the affected industrial corridor and have also proposed relocating the Dry Port to a more suitable site outside the increasingly built-up area.
Any relocation, however, would require decisions by the relevant federal, customs, railway and planning authorities.
Islamabad Tribune found no current official decision confirming that the Dry Port will be shifted.
The renewed complaints place attention on whether short-term rainwater clearance is sufficient for one of Islamabad’s principal industrial zones, or whether a comprehensive drainage and traffic-management plan is required.
Islamabad Tribune has not independently established that CDA failed to undertake any specific drainage work at the location shown in the circulating footage.
CDA’s response to the latest concerns should therefore be incorporated when available.
