ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s eagerness to carve out and sell plots has put the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in trouble, as the civic agency is developing plots on land in the Kuri area already allocated to the HEC for two public sector universities.

The issue of allotting alternate land to the HEC was supposed to be taken up at the CDA board meeting held on Monday, but sources said the agenda item could not be taken up and would likely be considered at the next meeting.

In the year 2007, the HEC purchased 250 acres at Kuri from the CDA for the establishment of University of Engineering, Sciences and Technology and the National University of Law and made full payment of over Rs1 billion to the civic agency.

After launching Margalla Enclave, HEC offered 25 acres in I-17 in lieu of 250 acres purchased in Kuri, says official

However, through a joint venture with Defence Housing Authority (DHA), the CDA launched a housing scheme - Margalla Enclave - on around 18,000 kanals in Kuri. Because of the housing scheme, the land allotted to HEC was also made part of it by CDA.

Now, sources in HEC said the CDA is offering alternate land in I-17 (around 25 acres instead of 250 acres).

“First they occupy our allotted land, now at their own will they are offering land in sector I-17 but only 25 acres. Possession of our 250 acres in Kuri should be handed over to us without any delay. In case, the land is no more available there, we should be allotted 250 kanals anywhere,” said an official of the HEC.

He said that in a recent meeting, HEC was asked to accept 25 acres in sector I-17 in lieu of 250 acres. “CDA is saying that HEC will be allotted land in CDA’s sector I-17. We never asked for I-17, it is their [CDA] choice. But, how we can accept this offer of 25 acres,” said the official.

The CDA board in 2025 had decided that all government educational institutions and plots designated for universities and educational institutes would be relocated to the Institutional sector of I-17.

The issue of HEC land in Kuri was also highlighted by the auditor general of Pakistan years ago and in June this year Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also took up the issue and directed for its early resolution.

Sources in HEC said that after PAC’s directive, CDA tried to resolve the issue, but in a recent meeting, they “offered us only 25 acres in sector I-17 and we were surprised to know this.”

Meanwhile, the CDA board also took up the issue of land allotted to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

Earlier, this institute was allotted land in H-11, which was cancelled later on by CDA. Then, 17.5 acres was allotted in sector H-16, but that piece of land was controversial sans CDA’s possession. Therefore, the CDA was unable to hand over the plot to PIDE for starting construction. To this, sources said a new plot of 13 acres with possession was identified in the same sector and now it will be offered to PIDE.

The issue was placed before the CDA board on Monday. “Yes, this issue was taken up by the board,” said an official and added that details of the board decision were not made public. “But, likely we will go for price adjustment in accordance with size of the plot,” said a deputy director of CDA.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026