CDA Launches Major Crackdown on Illegal Housing Societies in Islamabad

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In a bold move to restore regulatory order in Islamabad’s rapidly expanding real estate landscape, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched a targeted operation against illegal housing and cooperative societies. Acting on directives from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa will spearhead this initiative. The campaign seeks to rein in unauthorized developments by categorizing them according to legal status and jurisdiction, ensuring clarity and decisive action.

Under the new action plan, CDA aims to divide these housing societies into distinct groups. The bifurcation will separate those falling under CDA’s direct purview from those under the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration. This classification is intended to eliminate jurisdictional confusion and enable focused enforcement. The plan includes creating separate official lists for both categories to ensure transparency and proper follow-up. Authorities believe that streamlining the monitoring of these societies will drastically reduce fraudulent schemes and protect potential buyers from financial exploitation.

Illegal housing projects have long been a blot on Islamabad’s otherwise planned urban development. Many of these schemes operate without basic approvals, putting thousands of investors at risk. The lack of infrastructure, unclear ownership rights, and legal ambiguities have made it difficult for buyers to secure long-term returns. CDA’s latest step aims not only to dismantle such operations but also to reinforce investor confidence in government-regulated societies. As enforcement picks up, developers operating outside the legal framework may face stiff penalties and possible demolition orders, a necessary deterrent after years of regulatory inertia.

This decisive action by CDA reflects a much-needed shift toward urban discipline. With Islamabad’s real estate market attracting both local and overseas investors, the need for transparency and enforcement is more urgent than ever. If implemented with consistency and fairness, this crackdown could mark a turning point in how civic bodies manage unregulated expansion. As the authority moves forward, the challenge will be in sustaining momentum and ensuring that the crackdown does not become yet another half-measure. Nonetheless, for law-abiding developers and wary investors, this is a welcome signal that Islamabad’s property market is finally moving towards greater accountability and lawful growth.