CDA expects Rs500 billion from new commercial project on Islamabad's G.T. Road
CDA expects Rs500 billion from new commercial project on Islamabad’s G.T. Road
The Capital Development Authority is preparing a major commercial scheme along G.T. Road in Islamabad, and officials say the CDA Commercial Project Islamabad could earn the civic body more than Rs500 billion once the land is developed and sold. CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf has told the relevant wings to speed up work on the scheme, which the authority plans to launch in the coming months.
The authority will develop and sell the land in phases rather than offer it all at once, which officials say will keep prices firm and draw steady investor interest.
The land behind the CDA Commercial Project Islamabad
The project rests on land the CDA acquired in 1967. It runs for 16 kilometres between EME College and Nicholson Monument and forms a 200-foot-wide strip on both sides of G.T. Road. In total, the parcel measures 3,550 kanals.
After detailed planning, officials estimate that around 2,000 kanals can be put to commercial use, with the rest going to roads and services. The corridor sits on one of the busiest stretches of G.T. Road, which carries heavy traffic between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and officials expect strong demand for plots, showrooms and fuel stations. The National Highway Authority is also adding land to the road, which should lift the value of the adjoining plots.
How the Rs500 billion figure was reached
Explaining the estimate, an official said that even at a base rate of Rs750,000 per square yard, one kanal would fetch roughly Rs500 million. With about 2,000 kanals for sale, the total easily crosses Rs500 billion.
Officials said plots would be released gradually so each sale can respond to market conditions rather than flood the market.
Encroachments and the enforcement drive
A large part of the land has been occupied over the years, and the CDA has stepped up efforts to take it back. The authority says a significant share has already been retrieved, and more than 100 permanent buildings still standing on CDA land have been marked for removal once the required legal steps are complete.
The enforcement push began in 2025. A major operation last year, led by the then Deputy Director General Enforcement Dr Anam Fatima, recovered a considerable share, and another operation is now under way. Heavy machinery dealers in the Tarnol area are also using parts of the land for parking. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly backed the CDA’s efforts to reclaim state land in the capital.
What happens next
Director General Spatial Planning Ijaz Ahmad Sheikh has set up a four-member committee, led by Deputy Director General Architecture Ali Abdullah, to finalise the project’s design. That design will fix the plot sizes, the commercial mix and the phasing of the sales.
Launch timeline: the authority expects to roll out the project in the coming months, with the chairman pushing the relevant teams to wrap up preparations quickly.
First sales: the first plots will be auctioned after the design is approved, testing demand before the rest of the land is offered.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the CDA commercial project located?
The project covers a 3,550-kanal strip along a 16-kilometre stretch of G.T. Road between EME College and Nicholson Monument in Islamabad. It is a 200-foot-wide corridor on both sides of the road, acquired by the CDA in 1967.
How much of the land will be developed?
Officials estimate that about 2,000 kanals will become available for commercial development after planning. The rest will be used for roads, infrastructure and public space.
When will the project launch?
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed the authority’s teams to complete preparations quickly, and officials say the project is likely to be launched in the coming months.
How will the plots be sold?
The land will be developed and sold in phases rather than all at once. Officials say a staggered release will help the authority secure better prices and respond to market demand.
