E-12 Development 60pc Complete After 37 Years
E-12 development has reached 60 per cent completion in Islamabad’s long-delayed sector, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said on Friday, Dawn reported, 37 years after the sector was launched.
The sector was launched in 1989. Despite the passage of 37 years, its development work had never been completed. A large number of the initial allottees died while waiting for their plots, and adverse possession of land was the major reason for the delay.
The CDA now says the work is back on track. In a recent operation, 1,135 kanals of government land was retrieved, clearing the way for full-scale development.
What has been finished so far
“After the retrieval of 1,135 kanals of government land in Sector E-12 that had been pending for four decades, full-scale work on the sector’s development is under way. Overall, more than 60 percent of the development work has been completed so far,” a CDA press release said.
Work is proceeding in all four sub-sectors. In E-12/4, earthwork has been completed, while work on the base, sub-base and drainage is progressing rapidly. Earthwork on the Khayaban-e-Iqbal Service Road has been completed, and earthwork on the South and East Service Roads has also been completed.
In E-12/3, road surfacing work known as TST has been completed in 15 streets, while earthwork and base work continue in the remaining streets. In E-12/2, the same surfacing work has been completed in 25 streets. In E-12/1, it has been completed in 25 streets, while earthwork is under way in the rest.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf said all hurdles to the development of the sector were being removed in accordance with the law. He said 1,135 kanals of government land, worth billions of rupees, had been retrieved after 40 years, adding that encroachments on public land would not be tolerated.
A six-month target
The CDA has set a target of completing the entire development work in the sector within six months.
“Completion of development work in Sector E-12 and other sectors is among the top priorities of the CDA administration. All available resources are being utilised for the early completion of the project,” the CDA chief said.
He added that development of the sector would provide better residential facilities to citizens and contribute to the overall development of the city. “In view of the growing population, meeting the residential needs of the Federal Capital Islamabad is among our top priorities.”
The six-month target is ambitious for a sector that has waited 37 years. Allottees will judge it by what appears on the ground: finished roads, drainage and, finally, possession of plots.
E-12 development and the CDA’s wider troubles
The E-12 announcement comes as the CDA faces scrutiny over how the capital is run. A joint investigation team has recommended an independent commission to oversee Islamabad’s master plan, after pointing to structural and governance flaws in the authority’s affairs.
The JIT report, approved by the federal cabinet, also recommended an overhaul of the CDA ordinance to bring in transparency, e-governance and accountability. Against that background, finishing E-12 would be a concrete result for an authority under pressure to show it can deliver.
Islamabad’s development pipeline continues elsewhere too. A state lounge is planned at Islamabad airport ahead of the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in August 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How much of E-12 is developed?
More than 60 per cent of the development work in Sector E-12 has been completed, according to the Capital Development Authority.
Why did E-12 take 37 years?
The sector was launched in 1989 but its development was never completed. Adverse possession of land was the major reason for the delay, and many of the initial allottees died during the wait.
How much land was retrieved in E-12?
The CDA retrieved 1,135 kanals of government land in Sector E-12 after four decades. The authority says the land is worth billions of rupees.
When will E-12 be fully developed?
The CDA has set a target of completing the entire development work in the sector within six months.
