CDA orders sealing of Bahria Enclave offices over alleged illegal expansion

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has ordered the sealing of Bahria Town’s marketing and site offices at Bahria Enclave, Zone-IV,

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has ordered the sealing of Bahria Town’s marketing and site offices at Bahria Enclave, Zone-IV, Islamabad, over alleged unauthorised expansion, construction and violations of the approved layout plan.

According to CDA documents, Bahria Enclave-I has an approved layout plan covering 12,543.11 kanals, while the authority has alleged that development subsequently extended to more than 18,000 kanals without approval of a revised layout plan.

The CDA’s Directorate of Regional Planning has directed its Enforcement Directorate to proceed against the concerned offices under the applicable planning and development regulations. The action follows a final show-cause notice issued on September 9, 2026, to which Bahria Town submitted a response on September 15. The authority subsequently rejected the response, according to the documents cited in the order.

The CDA has alleged that development and construction were carried out on unapproved pockets of land without prior approval of a revised layout plan or individual building plans. The authority has also raised concerns regarding the extent of the scheme beyond its approved area.

The CDA’s official record separately confirms that the layout plan for Bahria Enclave-I was approved over 12,543.11 kanals on December 29, 2020, for 8,828 residential plots. The authority’s April 2026 correspondence further states that two different layout plans were found in its records and that calculations relating to parks, playgrounds and green areas showed a discrepancy exceeding 200 kanals.

The authority has also alleged violations involving land reserved for public amenities. According to the CDA, portions designated as parks under the approved layout plan were allegedly converted to commercial use. The authority has previously issued notices concerning the alleged conversion and other violations.

Another issue highlighted by the CDA concerns alleged encroachment on authority-owned land. The documents refer to construction on CDA land and an access road connecting Old Kuri Road with the housing scheme. The authority has also pointed to an earlier undertaking concerning the construction of link roads, including a proposed 3.5-kilometre Jinnah Avenue from Kuri Village.

CDA records show that notices and correspondence concerning Bahria Enclave have been issued over several years. The authority has continued to direct the developer to stop development on unapproved portions and submit the required revised plans.

The latest action is part of a wider enforcement drive by the CDA against violations of approved layouts and unauthorised housing schemes in Islamabad. The authority has recently published several sealing orders involving housing schemes in Zone-IV.

Under the relevant provisions cited by CDA, further measures may include removal or demolition of unauthorised structures, action against construction on authority land, suspension of processing of relevant cases and other enforcement measures.

The authority has also referred to possible action under the CDA Ordinance and ICT zoning regulations where violations are established.

For prospective buyers and existing residents, the dispute raises questions about the status of plots and developments located outside the approved layout. CDA’s official housing-scheme record currently lists Bahria Enclave Phase-I with an approved area of 12,543.11 kanals and identifies its LOP as approved.

The latest CDA action does not by itself establish criminal liability or determine the final status of every property claimed by buyers. Those matters will depend on the authority’s enforcement proceedings, applicable approvals and any subsequent legal or regulatory decisions.

The CDA has directed its relevant directorates to proceed according to law, while further action is expected regarding the alleged unauthorised development, land encroachment and discrepancies in the layout plans.