News
CDA Clears 36.5 Acres in Islamabad's I-15, Paving Way for Development of 500 Residential Plots
By Mariam Khan
Real Estate Analyst
3 min read
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has cleared approximately 36.5 acres of encroached land in Sector I-15/1, removing a long-standing obstacle to residential development. The authority announced the clearance on October 28, 2026. According to the authority, around 500 residential plots can now move towards planned development. The land has been cleared, but possession of the 500 plots has not been handed over. Further planning and development work is still required.
What Was Cleared
More than 300 houses, barns and other structures were vacated in the operation. It involved the Sheikhpur settlement. The reports we have seen do not say how many families lived there or whether compensation or relocation was offered, so we cannot describe the effect on residents. We also do not say whether anyone has challenged the operation.
Allottees Waiting Since 2005
Some affected allottees have been waiting since the sector was launched in 2005. The reports do not say how many allottees are waiting in total or whether the 500 plots are the plots they were allotted. We therefore do not describe who will receive them.
What Comes Next
The CDA's Planning Wing has been directed to speed up development formalities. The reports do not give a date for possession, a timetable for roads and services or a budget. Federal oversight of the CDA rests with the Ministry of Interior. The reports also do not say how the 500 plots relate to the 36.5 acres, so we do not state the plot size.
Why This Matters for Property
The clearance removes a significant obstacle in I-15 and could help long-waiting allottees move closer to possession. It may also improve prospects for residential construction and later commercial development in the area. No immediate increase in plot prices and no possession date have been established, and the reports do not link the clearance to prices.
What This Means for Allottees and Buyers
Allottees in I-15 should wait for a CDA notice on possession and should not pay anyone to speed it up. Buyers should confirm a plot's allotment status and its development stage with the CDA before paying. The signals to watch are the formal handover of plots, the development schedule for roads and utilities, any legal challenge to the clearance and further operations in the sector.