The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has intensified its crackdown on illegal encroachments in Islamabad, particularly structures built over natural stormwater drains (nullahs), warning that such constructions pose severe flooding risks and will be demolished without exception.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting held at the CDA Headquarters, chaired by Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Friday.
According to the briefing, enforcement teams have already begun sealing and demolishing illegal structures built over nullahs, in accordance with directives from Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
The campaign aims to reclaim government land from illegal occupants and prevent life-threatening scenarios during Islamabad’s increasingly intense monsoon rains.
Residents and commercial property owners have been urged to voluntarily remove all encroachments from stormwater channels. “If not removed voluntarily, these structures will be sealed, declared hazardous, and legal action will be initiated. The responsibility will lie entirely with the encroachers,” Randhawa warned.
In addition to enforcement, the CDA is implementing preventive measures to stop future encroachments. A permanent monitoring system will be established, utilizing drone surveillance and Google Earth mapping to track reclaimed land.
The authority also announced the digitization of layout plans, the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process, and fee payments for map approvals through a new cashless system.
“We are digitizing our One Window Facilitation Center and computerizing land records to enhance transparency and service delivery,” said the Chairman, adding that these reforms will also help curb fraudulent construction practices and improve public access to services.
The citywide anti-encroachment drive follows repeated flooding incidents in Islamabad’s residential and commercial sectors. Experts have warned that unregulated construction over nullahs obstructs natural water flow, leading to urban flooding and potential loss of life.
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CDA in involved in these illegal actives
Where was CDA sleeping when the construction was taking place
Now the Builders have run away in conivience with CDA and the owners will suffer
What a case in question by Govt / CDA
Sir main encroachments are the illegal kachi abadi spread on the “Nalas” all over the capital city, No one is paying attention to this main problem. CDA enforcement authorities are the main facilitator of all this activity. No forum is here to listen about this and take action against it.
Unfortunately, every department and institution today seems either under the influence of the powerful or entangled in bribery and commissions. As a nation, we are simply sitting and waiting for disasters to unfold. If the victims are from the poor, we quickly blame them for their own suffering — but if the powerful are involved, the narrative flips 180 degrees, and conclusions are manipulated. This is our national tragedy.
Gulshan ka Khuda Hafiz.
CDA IS CORRUPT TO CORE PRESENT OR PAST ALL R RESPONSIBLE THEY DID ALL THIS AS PART OF MASSIVE CORRUPTION WHICH PERVAILS
CDA is complicit in these illegal constructions and those responsible shall be exposed and brought to book.
great job, a lot of illegal buildings are being built with the conivance of CDA, were they sleeping when these buildings were being built?
I would fire the entire admin staff of CDA or at least the top bosses to send a strong message.
When they will take action against dha 5 and river view garden they are also build on sawan river land
Nothing will happen. Huge malls like Safa Gold Mall F-7 are built on Nullah. CDA dare not touch a brick.
Asalam u Alikum.
i m writing to mention construction of homes on edge/belt of Nala.
Address: Mohallah Muslimabad, Satra-meel stop, Lehtrar road, Islamabad.
this whole area under CDA domain but no sewerage, no electric poles in every street, no concrete streets.
every time locals complain regarding issues but no one listens our issues
Too late to wake up, it’s a continous job not one time by one regime.. People are habitual to encroach govt lands irrespective of their own safety… It’s not alone Islamabad but Pindi and other cities too… It’s a serious issue to narrow natural drains at the cost of lives and property and devastation it creates.. CDA is part of the problem due to corruption.
When will you take action against the Katchi Abadis which are built on Nallahs specially in G-7/2. From last 2 year more than 100 new houses have been made. Where is your enforcement wing. They are hide out for drug peddlers. Now the drugs is sold openly in these katchi abadis but there is no one who can take any action against them
CDA itself make allotments on the dead end streets along nallahs/drains. This should be strictly banned & all such places should be green belts/trees to protect the soil & environment
Sector E-11 has quite a few plazas constructed right on top of nullah waterway and a massive catastrophe is waiting to happen. Just last week a small section of wall from one Plaza at the end of street 101 in E-11/1 was swept away by raging water only to have the frightened occupant families (renters mostly) spend rainy nights out in the open and leaving the plaza more vulnerable than before.
It’s a ticking time bomb and just a few more rains could cause catastrophic damage.