Once heralded as the ‘Planned City’ of Pakistan, Islamabad’s designed infrastructure and peaceful environment made it a symbol of the nation’s aspirations. However, over recent years, the city has seen a dramatic shift, with rising crime rates, growing safety concerns, and declining trust in governance tarnishing its reputation.
Islamabad’s designation as Pakistan’s capital in 1959 came with the promise of a sustainable, safe, and orderly metropolis. Yet, recent data from Numbeo reveals a stark contrast to this vision. Between 2020 and 2024, Islamabad’s ranking on Numbeo’s Crime Index worsened significantly, jumping from 301st to 236th among the world’s most unsafe cities.
Street crimes, once an anomaly, have become a chilling regularity. The Business Recorder recently reported over 80 carjackings and 24 street crime cases within a single week, signals a troubling trend.
Traditionally, Karachi has held the unenviable title of Pakistan’s most crime-ridden city. Yet, many now compare Islamabad’s escalating crime
to Karachi’s infamous lawlessness. Social media users have expressed concern over Islamabad’s transformation. One Reddit user, @ZealousidealNews3369, lamented the city’s descent into chaos, while another, @Sheryar24, criticized the lack of civic-minded citizens, stating, “Islamabad now lacks ‘Quality People’ who are supposed to obey traffic laws, are respectful and civil to others.”
Experts and officials attribute this rise in crime to several factors, chief among them being rapid population growth. A senior police officer told The Tribune that migration from other cities has overwhelmed the city’s resources, making crime prevention increasingly challenging.
In response, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi was appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) in April 2024 with a mandate to curb the crime wave. Under his leadership, significant progress was reported—4,279 criminals involved in heinous crimes were arrested, as per The Nation.
However, the backlog of court cases skyrocketed from 6,000 in April to 16,500 by September, reflecting a judicial system struggling to keep pace with the rising crime rate.
Despite these efforts, Rizvi’s tenure has not been without controversy. During a recent National Assembly committee meeting, parliamentarians spent more time criticizing Rizvi’s tone than addressing the crime surge. A subsequent press release by the NA Secretariat praised the efforts of the Islamabad Police, but many residents remain skeptical of these claims.
For many, the rising crime has become a part of daily life. A resident of Islamabad described a harrowing encounter on social media: “Last night in G-9, a taxi recklessly driving near Ada Chowk almost ran me over. I got hit by his car and collided with the median.” Though unverified, such stories highlight the growing unease among citizens.
In another shocking incident on October 30, two individuals were injured in Kachnar Park when robbers opened fire on a victim and a bystander who tried to intervene.
Near Golra Mor, a brazen attack on police officers escorting a suspect in a bank robbery case ended with the suspect fatally injured. Subsequent investigations revealed the prime suspect was from Sargodha, raising questions about the increasing involvement of out-of-city criminals in Islamabad’s crime wave.
The rise in crime has left Islamabad at a crossroads. Its identity as a safe and organized capital is under threat, as citizens lose trust in the ability of law enforcement and policymakers to ensure their safety.
While progress has been made, as evidenced by recent arrests, the root causes—unchecked migration, strained judicial capacity, growing inequality, and social discontent—must be addressed comprehensively. Without a coordinated response, Islamabad risks becoming a cautionary tale of a city that lost its way.
As one resident aptly put it,
“Islamabad was supposed to be a dream city, but for many of us, it’s quickly becoming a nightmare.”
The recent protests have worsened the situation in the capital. There must exist a strict law to encounter increasing crime rate.
