ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to take action against housing societies for the violations of rules, starting with the expected sealing of the offices of four societies.
Sources in the Enforcement Wing told Dawn that through official letters the wing had been asked to seal the offices of four housing schemes – Soan Garden, Bahria Town, Jinnah Garden and AGOCHS Housing Society.
Sources said that last week the housing directorate of the planning wing had written the sealing letters. They said as per the letters, the housing societies were accused of violating approved layout plan. They said CDA in the past too had issued several notices to the said societies to comply with terms and conditions of the layout plans, but to no avail. Therefore, after issuing final notices, the planning wing decided to go for their sealing.
According to sealing letters, Soan Garden is accused of illegally converting the sites reserved for parks, graveyard and public buildings. While, according to CDA, the society carried out development work on 585 kanals without any approval of the layout plan and NOC from CDA. Meanwhile, CDA stated that the layout plan of Accounts Group Officers Housing Scheme-I (AGOCHS) had already been cancelled and the society was also accused of illegally converting sites reserved for parks, graveyard and public buildings.
Enforcement Wing told to seal offices of four housing schemes for violating approved layout plans
The notices said CDA approved the layout plan of Bahria Town Phase-III E and IV Housing Scheme in 2010 subject to fulfillment of the terms and conditions mentioned in the letter.
The layout plan (LOP) was approved in Mouza Kotha Kalan and Muza Humak Zone-5 over an area measuring 2999 kanals and comprising 2730 residential plots. “It has been observed that Bahria Town has failed to comply with terms and conditions of LOP approval and complete the prerequisite for obtaining NOC for the scheme from CDA in spite of lapse of about 15 years,” read the notice.
The notice further alleged that LOP of Bahria Town Phase-II, III, V and VI Zone 5 over an area of 2504.7 kanals was approved in year 2000 subject to conditions mentioned in the letter. “During the site visits, it has been observed with the grave concern and viewed seriously that Bahria Town has violated the approved LOP and illegally converted the sites reserved for Parks, Graveyard and Public Buildings.”
Jinnah Garden: CDA’s notice stated that the second LOP of Jinnah Gardens-I was approved by CDA in 2011 on area measuring 2548 kanals in Zone-5. However, the society couldn’t obtain NOC. Thus, the development of this scheme is without NOC.
Meanwhile, the notice stated: “In sheer violations of approved LOP, this society has illegally converted most of sites, earmarked for parks, green, open spaces, public buildings area like schools, hospital, community centre and graveyard, etc transferred in the name of CDA. Therefore, vide this office letter dated 23-05-2023, 10-06-2025,22-08-2025 and 3-12-2025 it was directed to get all the plots of public amenities vacated, restore them as per approved layout and submit compliance report, however, no response has been received till date,” read the notice letter.
It said that LOP of Jinnah Garden Extension over an area of 1826 kanals jointly sponsored by FECHS and National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society was approved by CDA in 2021.
“The sponsors have not fulfilled the terms and conditions of LOP letter till date and could not get NOC from CDA. The sponsors have violated LOP and illegally converted the sites reserved for amenities and public buildings into other uses,” read the letter.
When contacted, a senior officer confirmed to Dawn that the CDA was planning to seal offices of said societies on account of serious violations of their layout plans.
“I do agree, planning wing had written to enforcement wing, let’s see,” he said and added that show-cause notices and final notices had already been served on these societies.
It is relevant to note that besides 66 approved schemes, there are 199 illegal housing schemes, including 53 that fall outside the limits of Islamabad but use the capital city’s name to attract investors.
Recently, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi told media that there were 199 illegal housing societies in Islamabad and that CDA teams were working on each of them.
“We will give these schemes an option of registration [to come under regulations]. We will bring them into our regulatory framework so they can fulfil deficiencies and remove illegalities. We will certainly take action and impose fines as well,” he had said.
“After taking charge, I directed the CDA to take steps to stop unauthorised construction. We are monitoring construction through satellite,” he added.
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2026
