ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Islamabad/Rawalpindi on Thursday secured the transfer of 6,500 kanals of amenity plots and public utility land from two private housing societies to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The NAB’s intervention addressed long-standing gaps in regulatory compliance, including delayed transfers and unlawful utilisation of land earmarked for public use within housing societies.

A high-level meeting convened last week had resolved to expedite the transfer of amenity land within the prescribed legal and regulatory framework, NAB’s press release said. Under the direct supervision of Director General NAB Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Waqar Ahmed Chauhan and through sustained, coordinated efforts of senior officers, the transfer process has been formally completed.

In the first phase, 5,484.76 kanal of amenity land in Gulberg Residencia and 999 kanal in Margalla View D-17 have been formally transferred in favour of CDA. A registration ceremony was held at NAB Islamabad/Rawalpindi to mark this transition, while cases pertaining to additional housing societies have progressed to advanced stages of execution.

Total value of transferred land said to be approximately Rs41 billion as per Deputy Commissioner rates

Based on available assessments, the total value of the transferred land is said to be approximately Rs41 billion as per Deputy Commissioner (DC) rates, while the estimated market value of the public utility component is Rs. 25.43 billion. In aggregate, land valued at approximately Rs. 66 billion has been secured and transferred to CDA. A further 4,500 kanal of land from other housing societies is scheduled for transfer in the coming weeks.

Specifically, approximately 4,793 kanal of public and amenity land across multiple housing societies has been transferred through mutation in favour of the regulator. For instance, the Civil Employees Housing Society case, pending for nearly 31 years, has now been conclusively processed.

In addition, mutation of more than 2,500 kanals of land is currently under active consideration and is being processed for early finalisation. Meanwhile, NAB Chairman retired Lt-Gen Nazir Ahmed, called on the Federal Minister for Housing & Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada at the Ministry of Housing & Works.

While discussing the ministry’s affairs, the minister noted that certain decisions taken in previous administrations had resulted in significant financial losses to national exchequer.

According to the NAB, the chairman discussed various proposals aimed at optimising the utilisation of the ministry’s valuable assets for housing development across different cities in Pakistan.

He highlighted the importance of adopting successful international housing models and suggested initiating pilot projects in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), which could later be replicated nationwide.

NAB chief underscored the need for transparent and fair policies regarding government assets and assured NAB’s full support in the Ministry’s efforts to prevent maladministration and corruption in such projects. Federal Secretary Housing & Works, retired Capt Muhammad Mehmood, briefed the participants on the status of estate properties in Karachi.

He informed that over 3,000 residential units, spread across approximately 512 acres of land, were currently under the jurisdiction of the Estate Office, an attached department of the Ministry of Housing and Works.

Many of these properties were affected by legal disputes, unauthorised occupations, and entitlement issues, resulting in substantial losses to the national exchequer.

The secretary emphasised that these challenges could be effectively addressed through a comprehensive and revitalised policy framework, supported by strong institutional coordination, including NAB and the judiciary.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026