Urdu Report Desk
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is preparing to launch a major commercial development along Islamabad’s GT Road, with the project potentially generating more than Rs. 500 billion in revenue for the civic body.
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed the relevant departments to speed up work on the project, which is expected to be formally launched in the coming months.
Land Identified for Commercial Development
The proposed commercial area will be developed on part of the 3,550 kanals of land acquired by the CDA in 1967.
The land consists of a 200-foot-wide strip on both sides of the GT Road and stretches for approximately 16 kilometres from EME College to Nicholson Monument.
According to officials, around 2,000 kanals of the land could become commercially usable after planning and development work is completed.
Revenue Potential of More Than Rs. 500 Billion
An official said that, at a hypothetical minimum rate of Rs. 750,000 per square yard, the commercially usable land could have the potential to generate more than Rs. 500 billion if fully sold.
However, the CDA does not plan to sell the entire commercial development in a single phase. Officials said the project is likely to be launched and monetised gradually in phases.
Encroachment Removal Operations Underway
The GT Road itself falls under the National Highway Authority (NHA), while the adjoining acquired strips belong to the CDA.
The authority is carrying out demarcation and anti-encroachment operations to reclaim its land, particularly in areas where CDA and NHA boundaries meet.
Officials said a significant portion of the land has already been recovered through these operations, while another operation is underway to remove remaining encroachments.
Permanent structures occupying CDA land have also been identified and may be removed after completion of the required legal procedures.
Committee Formed to Finalise Project Design
CDA Director General Spatial Planning Ijaz Ahmad Sheikh has constituted a four-member committee to finalise the design of the proposed commercial project.
The committee will be headed by Deputy Director General Architecture Ali Abdullah.
CDA Assessing Commercial Demand
The CDA is also assessing potential commercial demand in the area, including opportunities for fuel stations and businesses dealing in heavy construction machinery, particularly around Tarnol.
The development is part of the CDA’s continued expansion of commercial planning along the GT Road. The authority’s official records already list several approved commercial schemes and other developments along the corridor.
