ISLAMABAD — The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has officially cancelled and withdrawn the layout plan (LOP) for “Bahria Town (Phase III-E & IV)” in Zone-5, Islamabad, with immediate effect. The decisive regulatory action follows a 15-year failure by the project sponsors, M/s Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd (BTPL), to secure a formal No Objection Certificate (NOC) and comply with mandatory planning terms.
Background and Regulatory Breaches
Originally approved on December 8, 2010, across 2,999 kanals, the housing scheme proceeded with site development and plot sales without ever obtaining the required CDA NOC—a direct violation of the CDA Ordinance 1960 and the ICT (Zoning) Regulation, 1992.
According to the CDA, numerous grave violations were identified on-site, including unauthorized commercial buildings along Corniche Road, as well as encroachments and constructions on public amenity plots, parks, graveyards, and riverbeds. Previous show-cause notices and directives issued to vacate and restore public spaces were met with replies deemed factually incorrect and unacceptable by the authority.
Audit Findings and Legal Precedent
The crackdown also incorporates findings from the Directorate General of Federal Audit (Audit Para 3.4.65/2023-24), which flagged illegal commercial construction along Corniche Road. The Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC), chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, subsequently ordered the removal of these illegal structures.
The CDA’s decision aligns with a September 26, 2019, Islamabad High Court judgment (Writ Petition No. 2766/2019) involving Bahria Town and the CDA. The court ruled that executing development activities under unapproved revised layout plans disentitles the petitioner from receiving relief under the court’s equitable jurisdiction.
Immediate Enforcement and Consequences
Invoking Clause-5 (II) of the ICT (Zoning) Regulation, 1992, the CDA withdrew the LOP, enacted an immediate suspension of building plan approvals for the scheme, and halted the processing of all other cases involving M/s BTPL due to its default status.
Copies of the cancellation order have been dispatched to key administrative and law enforcement bodies—including the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner, SSP, Director Enforcement (East), Director Building Control (South), utility providers (IESCO and SNGPL), the Press Information Department (PID), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)—to execute demolition actions, halt advertising, and enforce compliance across the board.
