Islamabad Capital Territory

A key obstacle was land acquired by the CDA for the residential project but still occupied by local residents in several locations. Landowners and affected residents continued to raise issues concerning compensation for land, houses and other properties, as well as the allotment of alternative plots. The CDA, meanwhile, maintained that compensation or other benefits had been provided to many affected people, but some acquired land had not been vacated.

Land compensation and built-up property claims were central to these disputes. Some residents sought compensation for the value of their land, while others sought payment for built-up properties and the allotment of alternative plots. Delays in resolving these cases also affected development work in the sector.
In 2022, further steps were taken to resolve the cases of affected residents following proceedings by a commission constituted by the Islamabad High Court.

That year, reports said 120 plots had been allotted collectively to affected residents of Sectors E-12 and I-12. However, not all cases were settled, and obstacles related to land possession and development remained.
In September 2026, the CDA began issuing further allotment letters to local residents, initially handing over 15 letters to the relevant people. At the time, around 146 allotment letters related to built-up properties were reported to be pending. Local representatives stressed the need to settle legitimate compensation claims and obtain possession of the land through mutual agreement.
The CDA had attempted to reclaim land in Sector E-12 before. In February 2019, it launched an operation with the assistance of the Islamabad administration and police. On the first day, officials reportedly took possession of around 80 kanals of vacant land. Difficulties in securing full possession and sustaining development work persisted.
During 2026, the CDA stepped up efforts to develop Sector E-12 and reclaim the land. Details released in May said development work was at various stages in different sub-sectors, while land possession and development obstacles were particularly prominent in E-12/4.
On the instructions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the CDA began operations to reclaim the land in coordination with relevant administrative agencies. In early October, the authority announced that it had reclaimed more than 1,000 kanals. Details issued on October 19 put the reclaimed area at 1,133 kanals, while updated official figures cited during the CDA chairman’s visit on October 26 gave the total as 1,135 kanals.

According to the CDA, the operations were carried out with the cooperation of the authority’s enforcement, estate, planning and other relevant departments, as well as the Islamabad administration, police and revenue officials. Officials reviewed land records and relevant legal and administrative matters before taking possession at various locations, with the aim of removing obstacles to development.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf visited Sector E-12 on October 26. He was accompanied by the Member Planning, Director General Works, Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, Deputy Director General Enforcement, Additional Deputy Commissioner General, the project director and other relevant officials.
During the visit, the chairman was briefed on ongoing development activities and the situation following the recovery of the land. He directed officials to accelerate development work, improve coordination among departments and take steps to complete the project while maintaining construction standards.
In early October, the CDA administration had also set a target of completing development work in Sector E-12 in about six months. However, final dates have not been confirmed for completion of all sub-sectors, provision of basic municipal services or the handover of plots to individual allottees.
The reclaimed land is expected to enable further work on roads, drainage, water, electricity and other basic facilities in the sector. The legal and administrative status of outstanding compensation claims, alternative plots and other pending matters concerning local residents will also remain significant.
The development is important for the real estate sector because E-12 is one of Islamabad’s long-standing government housing projects, where delays have affected thousands of allottees and their families. Reclaiming the land has improved the prospects for completing the project, but plot possession, completion of development work and the provision of civic facilities remain separate stages.

The CDA has described the recovery of 1,135 kanals of government land as a major achievement in the development of Sector E-12. The operation has removed a significant obstacle from a project that has remained incomplete for nearly 37 years. Meeting the authority’s announced development targets will now be crucial for thousands of allottees.