Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has cancelled the temporary site permission granted to the management of Centaurus Mall and ordered the site to be vacated within seven days of receiving the cancellation notice.
The CDA issued the notice on September 11, 2026, concerning an approximately eight kanal site located near Plot No. 1 in Islamabad’s Blue Area. The site had been allocated for temporary site and marketing offices associated with the plot.
According to the authority, a recent inspection found that the site was being used for purposes beyond those permitted under the original approval. The inspection identified labour accommodation in containers, toilets, a temporary mosque, badminton courts and construction material at the premises.
The CDA stated that no marketing offices were found during the inspection, raising concerns over the actual use of the temporary facility. The authority said the observed activities were in violation of the conditions under which the site had originally been permitted.
The CDA further noted that the temporary permission was granted for a period of two years and had expired without renewal. On this basis, the authority withdrew the permission with immediate effect.
Alongside cancellation of the permission, the CDA directed the management to clear outstanding dues amounting to Rs48.45 million.
The authority has given the management seven days from the receipt of the notice to vacate the site and remove the temporary structures and other material. It warned that failure to comply would result in the CDA clearing the land at the management’s risk and expense.
The action specifically relates to the temporary site allocated near Plot No. 1 and does not constitute cancellation or closure of Centaurus Mall itself.
The development highlights the CDA’s enforcement of conditions attached to temporary land-use permissions in Islamabad, particularly where approved sites are used for purposes other than those specified in the original permission.

Islamabad : ReNews Pakistan
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will hold an open auction of five prime hotel plots in Islamabad on September 26, 2026, as the federal capital seeks to expand its hospitality infrastructure and accommodate growing diplomatic, business and tourism activity.
The auction will begin at 10:00 am at the Jinnah Convention Centre, offering investors an opportunity to acquire strategically located sites in some of Islamabad’s key commercial and hospitality zones.
According to official information, the plots being offered include Plot No. 22, D-12 Markaz; Convention Centre Hotel Plot No. 6, F-5/1; Five Star Hotel Plot No. 8, F-5/1; and a hotel plot in the E-11 Northern Strip along Srinagar Highway between the Sports Complex and Margalla Hotel, along with another plot listed in the official auction schedule.
Investor Friendly Payment Terms
The CDA has announced a range of incentives aimed at facilitating investors and accelerating hotel development.
Under the announced terms, investors will have access to a one-year flexible payment plan, while possession can be obtained after payment of 75% of the purchase price, subject to a bank guarantee for the remaining amount.
Building plan approval will be available after payment of 25% of the total amount. Investors making full payment within 30 days will receive a 5% rebate, while an additional 5% rebate will be available on full payment made in US dollars, according to the CDA.
The authority will also facilitate several infrastructure related requirements, including electricity-line shifting, sewerage system upgrades, land clearance and independent approach roads.
The CDA said the auction is intended not only to generate investment in land but also to encourage development of modern hospitality facilities capable of serving international delegations, diplomats, business executives, tourists and leisure travellers.
Islamabad's growing role as a venue for diplomatic and international engagements has increased the demand for quality hotels, luxury accommodation, conference facilities and resorts, according to the authority.
The capital's planned urban environment, extensive green spaces, modern infrastructure and location near the Margalla Hills are also being presented as factors supporting investment in the hospitality sector.
The CDA expects new hotel projects to generate broader economic activity, including employment and increased business for restaurants, retail outlets, transport operators and tourism related services.
Special facilitation has also been announced for overseas Pakistanis and international investors. Token issuance will be available one day before the auction, while payments can be made through Roshan Digital Accounts or local banking channels.
Auction brochures and detailed terms are available through the CDA One Window Directorate and the authority’s official website.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab’s $200 million Affordable Housing Programme is facing a major implementation delay, with the World Bank proposing a 21 month extension that would push the programme’s completion date to March 2029.
The programme, originally scheduled to close on June 30, 2027, has been affected by delays in the physical delivery of housing units. The World Bank has downgraded its implementation progress assessment to “Moderately Unsatisfactory” and raised the overall risk rating from Moderate to Substantial.
Approved in March 2022, the programme was designed to strengthen Punjab’s housing institutions and systems while expanding the supply and quality of affordable housing across the province.
The programme targets 77,000 housing units, including 37,000 affordable units. However, no affordable housing units had been delivered under the programme by May 2026, highlighting the gap between the programme’s targets and its implementation on the ground.
The programme’s revised financing stands at approximately $203.82 million, of which only $41.12 million, or 20.17%, had been disbursed. Around $162.70 million remained undisbursed.
To accelerate implementation, the proposed restructuring includes a beneficiary-led construction model, a demand-side subsidy window and expanded technical assistance.
The beneficiary-led approach would give eligible households a more direct role in constructing their homes, while the proposed subsidy mechanism is intended to improve access to affordable housing for eligible beneficiaries.
Several construction targets also remain outstanding, including 9,000 affordable units through the private sector, 8,000 through the public sector and 16,000 units for eligible beneficiaries.
Despite delays in physical construction, progress has been reported in developing the institutional and digital framework for the programme.
The Housing Market Information System (HMIS), Programme Management Information System (PMIS) and Beneficiary Management Information System (BMIS) have been developed and are operational. Location and infrastructure investment criteria have also been developed, approved and put into use.
Punjab has also taken regulatory steps to facilitate affordable private housing. The provincial Cabinet approved revised Affordable Private Housing Schemes Rules on June 25, 2024, while the PHATA Governing Body approved related regulations on April 17, 2025.
However, several key measures remain pending, including finalisation of eligibility criteria for Tier-1 beneficiaries, completion of costing and feasibility assessments for core housing designs, and processing of developer applications under the revised private housing framework.
The development of a comprehensive Punjab housing policy has also remained on hold pending notification and implementation of the federal government’s national housing policy.
The World Bank has identified technical design, institutional implementation capacity and sustainability as substantial risks to the programme.
The proposed extension and restructuring are aimed at moving the programme from institutional and regulatory preparation towards actual housing delivery, with a particular focus on expanding access to affordable homes for lower income and eligible households.