ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has increased the property transfer fee threefold.

After the CDA board’s approval, the estate management wing notified the new rates. Now, people will have to pay three times more for the transfer of their houses and plots.

Interestingly, this increase came just days after the federal government abolished the 4 per cent stamp duty and 1 per cent registration fee for property transfers in Islamabad, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) revenue department.

The ICT revenue department mainly deals with rural areas.

However, the CDA, which operates separately and mainly oversees sectors and commercial areas, raised the transfer fee from 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the property’s value.

The notification issued by the CDA on July 1 stated: “Transfer fee of 3 per cent instead of 1 per cent would be charged on the value of the property as notified by FBR.”

The notification further stated that the title fee through sale deed would be charged at 0.5 per cent of the FBR value.

In all cases of family transfer, legal heirs, oral gifts, and general power of attorney, the fee would be charged as one-fourth of the applicable transfer fee, i.e., 3 per cent of the FBR value.

It stated that these rates would be applicable from July 1, 2025.

When contacted for the rationale behind the threefold increase, the CDA spokesperson shared a brief written reply, confirming that the property transfer fee had been increased from 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the property’s value.

However, he said the other increase mentioned in the notification was a mistake.

“Keeping in view the increase in market value of the property, CDA has made the transfer fee as per the value notified by FBR. No increase has been made in cases of family transfer, legal heirs, gifts and general power of attorney. There is a typographical error in the letter, which is being rectified accordingly,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025