The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has ordered the sealing of the marketing and site offices of Itifaq Residencia, a housing scheme operating on Simly Dam Link Road in Zone-04 (D), Islamabad, after determining that the project was operating without the required approvals. The authority stated that development activities at the scheme were initiated without an approved Layout Plan or a No Objection Certificate (NOC), making the development and related land use unauthorized under applicable regulations.
According to the CDA, the authority had previously taken steps to stop the project’s activities. Notices and show-cause notices were issued on May 23, 2025, and May 20, 2026, instructing the scheme to immediately discontinue unauthorized development, marketing and transactions involving plots, including their sale, purchase, allotment and transfer. The sponsors were also directed to remove structures that had been constructed without approval. The CDA said public notices were subsequently published in national newspapers and placed on its website, but the scheme’s sponsors did not secure the required approvals from the authority.
The latest sealing order applies to the offices being used by advertisers, sponsors, operators, consultants, contractors, real estate agents and marketing partners associated with Itifaq Residencia. The order was issued by Director Regional Planning Eijaz-ul-Hasan after approval from the Director General (Spatial Planning) of the CDA. The Directorate of Enforcement (East) has been tasked with executing the sealing action, while Deputy Director (RP-II) Hunain Khan has been designated to represent the Regional Planning Directorate in the matter.
In addition to sealing the offices, the CDA has directed relevant departments to initiate action for the demolition and removal of unauthorized structures at the scheme. The Directorate of Enforcement and the Directorate of Building Control (South) have been instructed to proceed under the applicable provisions of the CDA Ordinance 1960. The authority has also involved the local administration and police authorities in enforcement of the order, requesting the Deputy Commissioner ICT and the Senior Superintendent of Police Islamabad to issue directions to the relevant magistrate and police station.
The CDA referred to an Islamabad High Court judgment in its directions to the district administration and police. According to the authority, the judgment places direct responsibility for enforcement of CDA by-laws on officials including the Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Inspector General of Police, SSP Islamabad, the concerned Station House Officer and magistrates. The reference forms part of the authority’s broader instructions aimed at ensuring that the enforcement action against the unauthorized housing scheme is carried out through the relevant administrative and law enforcement channels.
The authority has also directed Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) not to provide utility connections to the project unless the connections comply with CDA-approved layout and building plans. The CDA has further instructed the Director of the Press Information Department to withhold approval for publication of advertisements promoting the project. It warned that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) may block websites associated with private housing schemes launched without the required approval.
Copies of the sealing order have also been forwarded to the Additional Collector Recovery and Senior Special Magistrate CDA for action relating to recovery under the CDA Ordinance. Another copy was sent to the Joint Registrar of Companies at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. The measures collectively cover enforcement, removal of unauthorized construction, restrictions on utilities and advertising, and recovery-related proceedings against the housing scheme.
The CDA’s action highlights the authority’s regulatory position that housing schemes cannot commence development, market plots or conduct related transactions without securing the required planning approvals and NOC. In the case of Itifaq Residencia, the authority said repeated notices and public warnings did not result in the sponsors obtaining approval, leading to the latest enforcement measures covering the project’s offices, structures, advertising and related operations.
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