The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched a major crackdown against illegal housing and agro-farming projects in Islamabad, declaring 99 schemes in Zones III and IV unauthorised and warning citizens against investing in them.
In a public notice issued by the CDA Planning Wing, the authority said many developers were aggressively marketing plots through social media campaigns, roadside advertisements and on-site sales offices despite lacking official approval.
The notice, signed by Director Regional Planning Ejaz ul Hassan, said the schemes violate Islamabad’s zoning and planning laws, including the CDA Ordinance 1960, the capital’s Master Plan and ICT Zoning Regulations 1992.
The authority warned that people buying plots in these schemes could face serious legal and financial problems because the projects have not received no-objection certificates (NOCs) or layout approvals from CDA.
According to the notice, private housing schemes are only allowed in specific sub-zones, while farm housing projects are restricted to designated areas of Zone IV. The CDA said the listed schemes fall outside those limits.
Buyers warned about legal complications
The authority said plot owners in illegal schemes may struggle to obtain building approvals, utility connections and ownership documents recognised by banks or courts.
Officials also made it clear that future regularisation or compensation cannot be guaranteed for investors if action is taken against the projects.
The warning comes as property prices in Islamabad continue to rise sharply, pushing many middle-class buyers towards lower-cost housing schemes advertised around Lehtrar Road, Simly Dam Road, Islamabad Expressway and Bani Gala.
Real estate experts say many investors fail to verify whether a scheme has CDA approval before purchasing plots, especially when projects use official-sounding names or market themselves as cooperative housing societies.
Among the projects declared illegal are Government Officers Co-operative Housing Scheme, J&K Farm Housing Scheme, Ghouri Town, Japan Valley, Gulf Residencia, Rawal Enclave, Capital Gardens and several housing projects near Bahria Enclave and Park Road.
Some of the schemes have operated for years and remain widely known among Islamabad residents, adding to confusion for buyers trying to distinguish between approved and unauthorised projects.
CDA orders developers to stop marketing
The CDA said enforcement action against illegal schemes is already under way through its regional offices.
It directed all developers and sponsors to immediately stop advertisements, plot sales and promotional activities. The authority also urged sponsors to submit layout plans and seek regularisation before stricter action begins.
Housing experts advised existing investors to consult property lawyers and verify land documents before making further payments or construction plans.
The largest number of schemes on the list are located along Lehtrar Road, Simly Dam Road, Kirpa Road, Kuri Road and the Islamabad Expressway corridor.
Major schemes named by CDA
Here is the complete list of illegal and unauthorised housing schemes named by the CDA:
- Royal City Housing Scheme
- Japan Valley
- Ghouri Gardens
- Satti Town
- Simly Valley (1&2)
- Dhanyal Town
- Ghakkar Town
- Usama Town
- Abdullah Gardens
- Canterbury Enclave
- Qurtbal Town
- Commoners Sky Garden (Flower Valley)
- Muzafarabad Town
- Madina Enclave Phase-I
- Star Villas Housing Scheme
- Saif Gardens
- Babar Enclave
- Doctors Enclave
- Green Avenue-II
- Hammad Town
- Marwa Town
- Media City-1
- Paradise Point HS
- Government Officers Co-operative Housing Scheme
- Badar Farms
- Green Field
- Shaheen Farms
- Kohsar Enclave
- Ali Town
- Green Meadows (North Ridge) Housing Scheme
- Al-Rayan Society
- Land subdivision sponsored by Raja Farukh
- Katrsaz Villas near D-12
- Major Makhdoom Society
- Green Hills
- Arcadia City
- Aryan Enclave
- Adil Valley
- Adil Farms
- Al-Syed Avenue
- Al-Rehman City View
- Al-Rehman Villas
- Al-Huda Town
- Ali Model Town
- Abdullah Garden
- Asian Ranches Villas
- Arsalan Town
- Abu Bakar Town
- Ameer Khan Enclave
- Blue Enclave / Star Home
- Burma Town
- Bylee Town
- Bara Kahu Enclave
- Bani Gala Hill View
- Commoners Sky Garden (Flower Valley)
- City View
- City Town
- Capital Gardens
- Dream Land City
- Faisal Town
- Ghouri Town (all phases)
- Green Avenue
- Green View Villas
- Green Valley (1&2)
- Gulberg Town (1&2)
- Gulf Residencia
- Green Residencia
- Green Valley
- Hill View Houses
- Iqbal Town
- Deal Residencia
- Ittifaq Town
- Islamabad Saif Garden
- J&K Farm Housing Scheme
- Kiani Town
- Karsaz Villas
- Land subdivision sponsored by Shahzad
- Madina Town
- Muslim Town
- Margalla Gardens
- Mufti Mehmood Enclave
- Makkah Town
- New University Town
- Olive Wood Farms
- OGDCL Town
- Park Lane Valley
- PTV Colony
- Rawal Enclave
- Rawal Enclave Phase-III
- Royal Homes / Residencia
- Satti Town
- Spring Valley
- Samia Town
- Tricon Agro-Farms
- The Enclave Housing Scheme
- Danyal Town
- Ghakar Town
- Usama Town
- Yar Muhammad Society
The CDA advised citizens to verify a housing project’s legal status directly from the authority before purchasing any plot or property in Islamabad.
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