At its 16th Board meeting on Wednesday, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) approved the Islamabad Rehabilitation Regulations 2024, introducing significant changes to land and Built-Up Property (BUP) acquisition policies within the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). This updated approach follows a recent ruling from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which prompted revisions to existing compensation practices.
The changes were prompted by an October 30 ruling from Justice Babar Sattar, who directed the CDA to end its previous compensation methods, finding that awarding plots and BUPs as compensation for land acquisition conflicted with the CDA Ordinance, 1960. The court emphasized that compensation should be based on the market value of land at the time of acquisition rather than providing plots.
Under the new regulations, affected individuals will receive financial compensation instead of plots, aligning with the CDA Ordinance, 1960’s mandate for fair market-based payments.
The CDA Board also used its authority under the Ordinance to implement additional organizational reforms, including restructuring the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management and the 1122 Emergency Service under a newly created Director General Capital Emergency Services. Plans to hire skilled personnel on contract were also approved to boost operational efficiency. CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa directed the board to expedite promotions for eligible staff and approved hiring a cybersecurity firm to strengthen the IT Directorate’s digital infrastructure. Additional recruitment of skilled IT professionals was also authorized to enhance the CDA’s technical capabilities.
