ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to develop any new sector during the last two decades, as allottees of E-12 have been waiting for their developed plots for the last 37 years.

After the development of D-12 in 2008, the civic agency has not developed any new sector, creating a shortage of affordable housing in the city besides causing unrest amongst the allottees.

However, CDA says, three sectors are now near completion – C-14, I-12 and I-15.

At present, CDA has 13 acquired residential sectors, out of which eight are completely stalled with no sign of development, while work is ongoing in five others. In addition to the 13 acquired sectors, the civic agency is also supposed to acquire nine more sectors, but it has also failed in that front too.

E-12 allottees waiting for their developed plots for over 37 years

E-12 is the highlight of the stalled sectors as it was launched back in 1989 with a promise of handing over developed plots within two years, but still development of this sector is incomplete.

Meanwhile, a number of initial allottees, who purchased plots from CDA in 1989 have already died.

Officials Dawn spoke said that work continued in this sector with slow pace as CDA has been facing the issue of land possession. Moreover, work could not be started in E-12/4, as this entire sub-sector is full of houses built by locals due to a dispute with the CDA over compensation.

“Work continues in three sub sectors of E-12 with slow pace as these sub sectors also facing land possession issue. There is need to settle land issue with locals once for all. Legitimate issue should be settled and action should be taken against encroachers,” said an official.

Meanwhile, CDA officials said that work was at advance stages in I-12, I-15 and C-14. They said that almost 90pc work in these sectors had been completed and with little more focus, possession letters could be handed over. On the other hand, work in C-15 continued with slow pace as this sector is also facing possession issues, as CDA has not issued allotment letters for the built-up property award, which was announced in 2016. Whereas, development work in two sub-sectors of C-16 is in progress and the remaining two sub-sectors are facing possession issues.

Meanwhile, work in C-13 was never started. While, there is no sigh of development work in sector E-13, F-13 and D-13 as CDA is yet to complete allotment of plots and built-up property compensation to the landlords.

Due to pending compensation cases of sector H-16 and I-17, there is no sign of development work as CDA yet to take possession of these sectors.

As per the city’s master plan, sectors H-13, H-15, H-16, H-14, H-17, D-14, D-15, and D-16 are also supposed to be developed by the civic agency.

“We do agree our performance in sector development is not good, but substantial progress was made during the last few years as now our three sectors are near completion,” said an official.

Another official said that a major portion of I-15 is near completion but one of its portions also facing possession issue while sector I-12 is also facing a little bit possession issue.

“But overall in these two sectors [I-12 and I-15] there is progress,” the official said.

Meanwhile, during the last two decades, CDA developed a housing scheme namely Park Enclave I and II, but sectors remained its least priority.

On the other hand, the business of private housing societies has flourished during the last two decades.

CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani, when contacted by Dawn, said he would respond as soon as he get required information on stalled sectors from the wing concerned. However, despite the passage of three-days, he did not provide any details.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026