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Capital Development Authority (Pakistan)
Autonomous civic organization working under Ministry of Interior, Pakistan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Capital Development Authority (Urdu: وفاقی ترقیاتی ادارہ, abbreviated as CDA) is a public benefit corporation responsible for providing municipal services in Islamabad Capital Territory. The CDA was established on 14 June 1960 by an executive order entitled Pakistan Capital Regulation. As of 2016, most of CDA's municipal services and departments have been transferred to the newly created Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation. However, the CDA is still in charge of estate management, project execution and sector developments.[1]
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History
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The organization initially came into being through an executive order but was later superseded by CDA Ordinance issued on June 27, 1960.[2] Major General Yahya Khan was designated as the first Chairman on 21 June 1960.[3] The Capital Development Authority developed the CDA Model School in Islamabad in 1970. It is one of the oldest civic organizations in Pakistan and it was created with the aim to develop and maintain the capital city.[4]
During 2016, CDA partnered up with Serena Hotels to launch spring tree plantation drive. The launch event was attended by diplomats from various countries, officials from Government and corporate executives.[5]
In 2017, the CDA launched healthy city programme in collaboration with WHO country office in Pakistan. The programme was aimed at addressing inequalities and targetting needs of vulnerable groups.[6]
U Microfinance Bank collaborated with CDA in 2021 to plant one of the largest Miyawaki Forest of Islamabad in Kachnar park.[7] During the campaign, around 6000 trees were planted on 1.5 acres of land. The collaboration was aimed at mitigating the devastating effects of deforestation and land degradation in Pakistan.[8] Later on, in another collaboration with Mari Petroleum, largest Miyawaki Forest of the city was launched in sector H-12 of Islamabad. Initially over 20,000 tree saplings were planted with the plantation to continue gradually. The forest is spreaded over an area of 17 acres having various species of plants.[9][10]
According to a statement issued in March 2022, PTCL Group and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) entered into a strategic partnership to drive the digitalization of services provided by CDA. As per agreement, PTCL will deliver digital solutions to support various sectors within CDA Islamabad, including the administration, Excise and Taxation, and Islamabad Police. The partnership will initially introduce 12 key solutions, such as mobility services, call center setup, video conferencing, cloud services, complaint management systems, street lighting, and fleet management.[11][12]
In 2023, CDA collaborated with Niaz Support to provide custom wheelchairs to their employees with disabilities and their family members living with disability.[13] In order to address the water shortage problems, CDA officials conducted meetings with WAPDA officials for construction of Dotara Dam and decided to collaborate for this project with the CDA intending to fund the project.[14]
During 2024, Capital Development Authority in collaboration with Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) launched "Throw and Grow" initiative to promote the green cover of Margalla hills.[15] In another collaboration, The Embassy of United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Pakistan decided to provide support to CDA in renovating and adding new facilities to one of the parks existing in Islamabad.[16] In another move, CDA joined hands with OGDCL for landscaping and tree plantation drive in the city. The project is expected to improve the aesthetic appeal of Islamabad Expressway while also contributing to better air quality through more plantation.[17]
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Responsibilities and services
- Planning and Design Wing
- Architecture Directorate
- Building Control Directorate
- Enforcement Directorate
- Housing Societies Directorate
- Industrial Planning Directorate
- Land Survey Division
- Master Plan Cell
- Urban Planning Directorate
- Structure Directorate
- Traffic Engineering & Transportation Planning
- Administration Wing
- Capital Hospital
- HR Directorate
- CDA Training Academy
- Labor Relation Directorate
- Law Directorate
- Security Directorate
- Environment Protection Cell
- Environment Directorate
- Environment Protection Directorate
- Parks Directorate
- Sanitation Directorate
- Wildlife Management Directorate
- Estate Wing
- Estate Management
- Land and Rehabilitation Directorate
- Sector Development Directorate
- Technology Wing
- IT Directorate
- One Window Operation Directorate
- Public Relations Directorate
- Geospatial Technology Wing
- Resource Center
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List of Chairmen
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The Government of Pakistan appoints the CDA chairman through its Establishment Division. As of 2024, the chairman also serves as the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory. According to the CDA Ordinance, the chairman of the board is appointed for four years.[18]
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Achievements
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During an anti-encroachment drive, CDA was able to recover as much as 700 kanals of land from land grabbers in sector I-12 of Islamabad. The said land was illegally encroached by Afghan settlers due to which CDA launched a comprehensive campaign to retrieve the encroached land.[33][34] In another successful move, CDA recovered 350 kanals of land in sector I-15 of Islamabad after 16 years of illegal occupation by land mafia.[35]
In order to address the water availability issues, CDA established upto 100 rainwater rechargeable wells in different localities of Islamabad. The project is aimed at conservation of rainwater to improve the underground water level in the city. These wells are designed with a filtration system to keep the water safe from pollutants while revitalising the groundwater. As informed by officials of CDA, more than one million gallon of rainwater has been saved from establishing rechargeable wells.[36][37]
In order to reduce maintenance cost and to adopt energy efficient solutions, CDA replaced 21,000 street light bulbs with LED lights. The lights have been replaced on major roads and avenues in Islamabad.[38]
Over the years, the CDA has also completed some major infrastructure projects aimed at addressing the traffic congestion issue in the city. Some of the major infrastructure projects completed include construction of 7th Avenue at a cost of PKR 900 million,[39] construction of Zero Point Interchange on Islamabad Expressway in year 2011 at a cost of PKR 4.1 Billion,[40] Peshawar Morr Interchange on Srinagar Highway at a cost of PKR 6.5 Billion in year 2016,[41] and Rawal Dam chowk flyover on Murree Road at cost of PKR 1.1 Billion in year 2022.[42] In another development, CDA inaugurated 7th Avenue interchange in year 2022 built at a cost of PKR 1.7 billion.[43] These infrastructure projects have helped in reducing traffic congestion on major roads and junctions in Islamabad specially during rush hours.
To preserve the history of Islamabad and to promote culture and tourism, CDA developed Saidpur village, more than 300 years old village, into a model village restoring its outlook. The village carries structures of Mandir, Church, and a Gurdwara.[2]
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CDA Hospital
In order to provide medical services to its serving and retired employees along with general public, CDA operates Capital Hospital in Sector G-6 Islamabad. Initially started as day care medical center, the facility was converted into a hospital in year 1981. The hospital houses 250 bed facility and is providing medical care in general surgery, Urology, Eye & ENT, Orthopaedics, and post-operative intensive care among others. The hospital has the distinct privilege of introducing Nuclear Cardiology to Pakistan in 1985 and it also operates hospital based coronary care unit.
Capital Hospital provides free medical treatment to employees of CDA and their families. Non-entitled patients are charged for investigations and in-patient treatment.[4] After construction of several new blocks, the hospital has been converted into a 500 bed facility.[44]
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Controversies
Since 2014, the CDA has been targeting and demolishing illegal slums who are largely occupied by Christians in Islamabad. The Supreme Court put on hold the demolitions and ordered from the CDA a written justification to it. The CDA's replied that "most of these katchi abadis [slums] are under the occupation of the Christian community." "It seems this pace of occupation of land by Christian community may increase. Removal of katchi abadies is very urgent to provide [a] better environment to the citizen[s] of Islamabad and to protect the beauty of Islamabad." Various human rights activists condemned the response.[45][46][47]
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Dissolution
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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on 28th June 2025 ordered the government to dissolve the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and transfer its powers to the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (MCI)
A day earlier, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard two writ petitions challenging a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) issued by the CDA in 2015 imposing Direct Access and Right of Way (ROW) charges on petrol pump/CNG stations located on major roads in Islamabad.
Today’s judgment said that the CDA charged the petitioners an amount of Rs337,442,856 for payment “under ROW charges”.
It said that the “issuance of SRO constitutes an illegal act and is unconstitutional” under Article 77 of the Constitution, which directs that taxation powers must be exercised with the parliament’s authority.
Justice Kayani noted, “Essentially, the imposition of direct taxes, ROW charges, or access charges by the CDA under the CDA Ordinance, 1960 based on municipal functions derived from the Municipal Administration Ordinance, 1960 without following the statutory procedure outlined in Sections 88, 89, and 90 of the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, is unlawful.”
The order said, “It is now time for the federal government to take appropriate steps to terminate the functioning of the CDA in terms of Section 52 of the CDA Ordinance, 1960, and to formally dissolve the Authority, as its original mandate hasbeen fulfilled.
“The entire administrative, regulatory and municipal framework of Islamabad Capital Territory is now governed under the ICT Local Government Act, 2015, which is a special legislation enacted to regulate local governance through elected representatives.”
While allowing both writ petitions, the order said that the SRO was declared “illegal” and “without lawful authority or jurisdiction”.
Justice Kayani directed the government to “initiate and conclude the process for the dissolution of the CDA, and to transfer all powers, assets, and functions to the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (MCI)”.
“This transition shall ensure that the Islamabad Capital Territory is administered under a transparent, accountable, and lawful municipal framework, and that the rights of its citizens are duly protected under the law,” the order noted.[48]
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See also
References
External links
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