Plan to allow commercial activities in Islamabad's Zone III raises eyebrows

Plan to allow commercial activities in Islamabad's Zone III raises eyebrows.

Key points

• Kashif Abbasi Published September 4, 2026 Updated September 4, 2026 09: 09am.
• The CDA, through a joint venture with the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), is developing Margalla Enclave in the Kuri area.
• The notification was dated May 7, 2026, and was shared by the spokesperson.
• Kashif Ali Abbasi is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with 17 years of experience in journalism.
• It is relevant to note that for the CDA-DHA Margalla Enclave, besides the 3.8km road, an underpass is additionally being built at Park Road.

Kashif Abbasi Published September 4, 2026 Updated September 4, 2026 09: 09am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning a major commercial area in Zone III. It is otherwise a protected area where construction activities are prohibited, even for small houses on private land.

Meanwhile, the CDA, through a joint venture with the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), is developing Margalla Enclave in the Kuri area.

For this housing project, a 3.8km link road from Park Road to the housing scheme is being developed, with earthwork almost complete. The road passes through Zone III, a protected zone where, under CDA regulations, no construction activity can take place.

Nevertheless, the CDA is planning to develop a mega commercial area on both sides of the road. To achieve this, the federal administration has already granted the road the status of an arterial/major road of Islamabad. The federal administration, through an official letter, directed the CDA to apply the regulations already notified for GT Road, Islamabad Expressway, Srinagar Highway, IJP Road, Lehtrar Road, Murree Road, Fateh Jang Road, Park Road, Kuri Road, Simly Dam Road, Kahuta Road and Japan Road to the 3.8km road to produce it an international-standard urban avenue.

While CDA considers regulated commercial development along new road, residents barred from building even small houses in Zone III.

After the federal government's approval, the Ministry of Interior a couple of months ago had a notification published in the Official Gazette to provide the road the status of an arterial/major road of Islamabad.

Interestingly, construction activities are completely banned in Zone III and individuals are not allowed to construct even a three-marla house on their own land. While whenever the CDA comes to know regarding the construction of new houses, its staff rushes to the site to demolish the structure, besides confiscating construction tools, on the request of the CDA, individuals cannot secure new electricity connections. Such cases have taken place in the Shah Allah Ditta area in the recent past.

By contrast, in contrast to its own policy, the CDA is now planning to have a new commercial zone along the road in Zone III.

"This is quite interesting and double standards. How can construction be allowed for a mega commercial area in Zone III while small houses are banned and individuals are not allowed to have their own houses on their land?" a source stated.

For context, the source remarked the CDA was planning to secure the commercial area developed through a joint venture with DHA on the same pattern as Margalla Enclave.

"Since the federal administration is competent to allow any change in zoning regulations, the administration has given this road the status of a major road. Therefore, the debate over construction in Zone III has automatically died down, but yes, the matter of the public at substantial is still undecided, " the source noted.

When contacted for the authority's official version, did not reply to specific questions but shared a notification, stating that it was self-explanatory, the CDA spokesperson.

According to The notification, the federal administration had approved the alignment of the proposed Zone IV access road, having a right of way of 220 feet and a total length of 3.8km, and declared it an Arterial/Major Road of Islamabad.

"The federal government has also authorised CDA to notify and apply relevant parameters along the Zone-IV Access Road as prescribed in inter alia, the ICT Zoning Regulations, 1992 and relevant ICT building control regulations 2020 as amended in 2023 and applicable to already notified Astride Arterial Major Roads.Islamabad Expressway, IJP Road, Lehtrar Road, Murree Road, GT Road.in order to ensure its development as a planned, international standards urban avenue and to facilitate regulated development and lawful resource generation, " read the notification.

It further stated, "The federal government has allowed CDA to adjust land parcels from within its ownership, including land reverted to CDA upon expiry of lease to address, inter alia, any deficiency arising in respect of land previously earmarked to STZA."

Meanwhile, the notification was dated May 7, 2026, and was shared by the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson was additionally asked whether the new road falls in Zone III. He was similarly asked whether this amounted to a contradictory policy. He did not reply to these questions but shared the notification.

Sources remarked the CDA board on Wednesday additionally discussed the notification at its session and members deliberated upon the "relevant parameters" for notifying regulations for the road in accordance with the federal government's decision. It is relevant to note that for the CDA-DHA Margalla Enclave, besides the 3.8km road, an underpass is additionally being built at Park Road. Nevertheless, the underpass project has been facing delays in completion, causing difficulties for motorists.

Meanwhile, the project was began some nine months ago, but contrary to other underpass projects in Islamabad. It were completed in a few months, this project has been facing delays and citizens have been raising their voice against the delay.

Margalla Enclave is a joint venture of the CDA and DHA, being developed on CDA land in the Kuri area, and both authorities will have a 55-45 per cent share in the scheme. DHA is carrying out the development work. Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026.

Kashif Ali Abbasi is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with 17 years of experience in journalism. He covers sports, the education sector, and civic problems. He can be discovered on X at @AbbasiKashif833.

In short, plan to allow commercial activities in Islamabad' s Zone III raises eyebrows is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.