CategoriesNews Developments Property Real Estate Urban Developments & Planning

CDA Directs Housing Sponsors to Display Approved Layout Plans, Warns of NAB Action

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued a formal directive to all sponsors of private housing schemes and projects in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), requiring them to transparently display approved layout plans amid growing concerns about public deception in the housing sector.

The notice, issued by the Planning Wing under reference No. CDA/PLW/DG-SP/General/2026/280 and signed by Ijaz Ahmad Sheikh, Director General (Spatial Planning) and Director Housing Societies, follows a communication from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Regional Bureau, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, dated May 11, 2026.

According to the CDA, NAB had observed that several housing sponsors and developers were misrepresenting the approval status of their schemes either by failing to display approved layout plans altogether or by presenting outdated and unapproved versions to prospective buyers.

The authority noted that such practices create a false impression of legal standing, mislead the public, and result in financial loss and hardship.

To curb the trend, the CDA has directed all housing societies to upload and regularly update their approved layout plans on official websites and to prominently display these plans, measuring at least 7×5 feet, at reception areas of project sites and booking offices, accompanied by a QR code linking to verified project information.

The directive further invokes Clause-40 of the 2023 Regulation for Planning and Development of Private Housing Schemes, requiring that all allotment letters be routed through a CDA-linked digital platform and vetted by authorised officials before being deemed valid.

Housing societies have ten days to submit compliance reports with supporting evidence; otherwise, the matter will be referred to NAB for potential legal action. The notice has also been circulated to utility providers, including IESCO and SNGPL, and to regulatory bodies such as PEMRA and SECP, to ensure coordinated enforcement across the sector.

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CategoriesNews Developments Economy Property Urban Developments & Planning

SBP Boosts Home Financing Access With Revised 90% LTV Rule

 ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a revised regulatory framework for housing finance, allowing banks and development finance institutions (DFIs) to finance up to 90 percent of a property’s value, up from previous limits under earlier circulars. The new regulations, which took effect immediately upon issuance, supersede several circulars issued between 2019 and 2021, and the central bank has directed all banks and DFIs to ensure strict compliance.

Under the updated rules, the maximum loan-to-value ratio has been set at 90:10, meaning eligible borrowers can secure financing covering up to 90 percent of a property’s assessed value. 

Housing finance may be extended for a range of purposes, including purchasing a house, apartment, or plot; constructing on an already-owned plot; renovating or expanding an existing home; and installing renewable energy systems within housing units. 

The maximum repayment tenor for standard housing finance is fixed at 30 years, while renewable energy financing has a shorter maximum tenor of 10 years.

To safeguard borrowers from over-leveraging, the SBP has capped total monthly loan repayments, including the proposed housing finance and any other consumer loans, at 65 percent of a borrower’s net disposable income. 

Banks and DFIs must also obtain updated credit information reports through the State Bank’s Electronic Credit Information Bureau or a licensed private credit bureau, with approved proxy models available to assess informal income where applicable.

Additional safeguards include mandatory documentation of property title and ownership, lenders’ formal acknowledgement of received documents, and a general requirement that financed properties be mortgaged in the lender’s favour. 

For loans up to Rs. 5 million, a lien supported by a Green Property Certificate may serve as sufficient security. The framework also mandates comprehensive insurance or Takaful coverage equal to the outstanding finance amount, and lenders must clearly disclose coverage terms and charges to borrowers.

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CategoriesNews Budget Developments Economy Property Towers Urban Developments & Planning

LDA’s Rs88.6bn Budget for FY27 Approved Amid Record Revenue Growth

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority‘s governing body has approved an Rs88.613 billion budget for LDA and the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) for the 2026-27 fiscal year, setting a revenue target of Rs47 billion. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by LDA Vice Chairman Mian Marghub Ahmed, with senior officials from housing, finance, local government and WASA departments in attendance.

Under the approved budget, Rs10 billion sourced through a Punjab government loan has been earmarked for structural road projects, while Rs6.3 billion will fund Annual Development Programme schemes.

Development work in LDA City has been allocated Rs12.5 billion, with a further Rs13.5 billion set aside for sustainable development and urban regeneration initiatives. LDA Avenue 1 will receive Rs4 billion, and TEPA has been granted a separate Rs3.5 billion budget alongside amendments to existing building and zoning regulations.

On the revenue side, the authority has set targets of Rs17 billion from town planning activities and Rs19.2 billion from property sales and allotments, with LDA City expected to contribute Rs15 billion of that figure.

The governing body also greenlit several new initiatives, including a pilot maintenance-charge scheme for residential and commercial properties in LDA Avenue 1, Jubilee Town and LDA Enclave, with services offered free for an initial two-month period.

Additionally, officials approved plans to develop commercial plots on 118 kanals along Ferozepur Road near Arfa Karim Tower for a proposed technology park, and allocated Rs100 million toward a child-friendly city initiative undertaken in partnership with UNICEF. 

Other approvals included launching a new residential and commercial sector within LDA City and installing solar lighting across several city blocks. Officials credited the authority’s leadership for achieving a record Rs32 billion in revenue during the previous fiscal year, the highest total in LDA’s history.

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CategoriesNews Construction Developments Property Real Estate Urban Developments & Planning

Punjab Freezes Funds of 40 District Councils, Cancels 286 Rawalpindi Schemes

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has frozen the funds of all 40 district councils across the province, including the Rawalpindi District Council, following the rollout of a new local government system, a move that has led to the cancellation of all 286 small and large development schemes previously undertaken by the Rawalpindi council.

District council funds are now being transferred to the newly established tehsil councils, with contractors previously registered at the district level being re-registered with their respective tehsil councils. Only schemes in the final stages of completion have been permitted to continue; all other grants and development funds now fall under tehsil council control.

The Rawalpindi District Council had earlier approved a budget of Rs7.84 billion, of which nearly Rs3 billion was allocated for local-level grants and development schemes.

With district council operations wound down, tehsil councils and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) are executing new water-supply and grant-funded projects in Rawalpindi. WASA has taken over water-supply schemes previously managed by the district council, including the Chahan Dam Water Supply Project. The project is designed to deliver 12 million gallons of clean water daily to a population of roughly one million.

Separately, under the Punjab chief minister’s Clean Drinking Water pilot initiative, pipeline networks and filtration plants have begun supplying clean drinking water to underdeveloped areas of Rawalpindi and Chaklala.

The restructuring marks one of the most significant administrative shake-ups of Punjab’s local government framework in recent years, shifting fiscal and developmental authority from district-level bodies to the newly empowered tehsil councils.

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CategoriesNews Construction Developments Economy Property Property Laws Real Estate Investment

Cabinet Approves National Housing Policy 2026, Endorses New Cybersecurity Framework

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved the National Housing Policy 2026 together with a corresponding implementation plan. Under the policy, housing projects will be required to fully observe zoning regulations, with priority given to vertical construction to improve land-use efficiency. 

Officials noted the policy was drafted with input from local and international experts, along with federal, provincial, and development-sector stakeholders, aiming to ensure sustainable and quality housing nationwide. Energy-efficiency standards have also been folded into the policy framework to align new construction with environmental goals.

The cabinet was additionally briefed on the Apna Ghar housing scheme, revealing that banks have sanctioned loans worth Rs220 billion for prospective homeowners, of which more than Rs32 billion has already been disbursed.

In a separate move, the cabinet approved withdrawing Pakistan’s earlier notice to terminate its 1981 bilateral investment treaty with Sweden, based on a summary presented by the Board of Investment.

On the technology front, the Ministry of Information Technology introduced the draft Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026 (PISF 2026), developed under the CERT Rules 2023. The framework is designed to establish unified baseline cybersecurity standards with centralized oversight. The cabinet approved it as a key policy document and directed its timely implementation.

Further ratifications included proposed amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023, aimed at upgrading refineries to strengthen energy supply, along with decisions made during recent Economic Coordination Committee and Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases meetings.

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Source: DAWN

Regulate Evacuee Property Management
CategoriesNews Property

Sindh Government Moves to Regulate Evacuee Property Management

KARACHI: The Sindh government has moved to bring evacuee properties across the province under direct administrative control, following a decision approved by the Sindh Cabinet. Under the newly sanctioned framework, Deputy Commissioners in every district will be designated as administrators responsible for overseeing, protecting, and managing these properties at the local level.

Officials say the initiative is intended to strengthen governance over state assets that have long been entangled in legal and administrative disputes. By centralising oversight under district administrators, the provincial government hopes to curb illegal occupation, tighten record-keeping, and bring greater transparency to how such properties are handled.

Evacuee properties refer to land and buildings left behind by individuals who migrated during the 1947 Partition. Their management in Sindh currently falls under the Sindh Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act, 2019, with additional oversight provided by a dedicated Member for Registration, Stamps and Evacuee Property within the Board of Revenue.

The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of evacuee property disputes in Karachi, where several cases have drawn public and legal attention in recent months.

Among them, the Sindh High Court in June 2026 examined the disputed status of the Karachi Cotton Association’s historic building, a case that highlighted the need for clearer administrative control and more reliable property records.

Authorities believe empowering Deputy Commissioners as district-level custodians will improve coordination between provincial bodies and local administrations, accelerate decision-making, and reduce encroachment on state land.

The reform is also expected to create a more consistent, accountable system for managing properties that have historically suffered from fragmented oversight.

The provincial government is expected to release detailed implementation guidelines in the coming days, clarifying the specific powers and responsibilities assigned to the newly appointed administrators, as the reform moves from approval toward on-ground execution.

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CategoriesNews Economy Property Real Estate Real Estate Investment

Rs. 16.44 Billion Raised as Islamabad Auction Enters Final Day

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) collected Rs. 16.44 billion during the opening two days of its ongoing commercial plot auction at Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre, with a third and final round of bidding still ahead. The first day alone brought in Rs. 13.81 billion, while the second added a further Rs. 2.63 billion to the tally.

Tuesday’s proceedings featured strong demand for agricultural land along Murree Road, where Agro Farm No. 18 sold for Rs. 1.212 billion and Agro Farm No. 17-A brought in Rs. 966 million.

Commercial shop units in the Blue Area Parking Plaza also performed well, with three individual units fetching between roughly Rs. 147 million and Rs. 154 million apiece.

Not every offering found a buyer, however. Two commercial plots in Sector C-13, a site that has remained mired in controversy for nearly two decades, failed to attract meaningful bids despite CDA officials anticipating combined proceeds exceeding Rs. 10 billion.

The sector was originally acquired under the 2007 Land Sharing Policy, but many of the original landowners say they are still waiting to be compensated or resettled.

Affected residents have raised objections to CDA continuing to market land from the sector while their claims remain unresolved. According to landowner accounts, the CDA Board approved a plan in 2023 to compensate eligible families with residential plots in the adjacent Sector C-14, and revenue authorities subsequently completed ownership verification.

Despite this, no allotments have reportedly been issued. The dispute has also drawn intervention from the Islamabad High Court, which ordered CDA to settle outstanding compensation, though claimants say that order has yet to be enforced.

The auction is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, with the authority expressing hope that the final day will generate additional revenue from the sale of remaining commercial properties across the capital.

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CategoriesNews Property Property Laws Real Estate

Punjab Opens First Overseas Land Transfer Desk in London

LAHORE: The Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), in collaboration with the Board of Revenue Punjab, has inaugurated the province’s first overseas property transfer desk in London, allowing overseas Pakistanis to complete land and property transactions without travelling to Pakistan.

The facility was formally launched at the Pakistan High Commission in London on August 3, 2026, marking the first international expansion of Punjab’s land transfer services for the Pakistani diaspora.

Under the new arrangement, overseas Pakistanis can process property transfers in Punjab through the London desk in a more convenient, secure, and transparent manner. The initiative is designed to simplify documentation requirements and reduce the need for costly and time-consuming travel for land-related transactions.

Officials said the facility aims to enhance transparency, convenience, and innovation in land administration, while ensuring secure record-keeping for the diaspora community.

The PLRA is now preparing to replicate the model in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates within the next 30 days, extending overseas transfer facilities to two of the largest hubs of Pakistani expatriates.

Authorities said the expansion is part of a broader push to digitise and internationalise Punjab’s land records system, with the goal of strengthening overseas Pakistanis’ confidence in the province’s property regulatory framework and improving the overall efficiency of land-related services beyond the country’s borders.

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Pakistan’s Property Market Gains Momentum
CategoriesNews Economy Property Property Laws Property Taxes Real Estate Real Estate Investment

Pakistan’s Property Market Gains Momentum Amid Tax Cuts and Global Shifts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s real estate sector is witnessing a notable resurgence, with market activity accelerating across major urban centres including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Industry analysts attribute the renewed interest to a combination of domestic tax relief measures and shifting global economic conditions, prompting both local and overseas investors to reconsider property as a preferred asset class.

At the centre of this shift is a reduction in property transaction taxes, which has lowered the overall cost of buying and selling real estate. This adjustment has made the market more accessible to genuine homebuyers as well as investors seeking stable returns. 

Adding to the momentum, the federal government has proposed abolishing Section 7E, a tax provision long criticised by property stakeholders as an unnecessary financial burden on owners. Should this proposal advance, experts anticipate it could further stimulate transaction volumes in the months ahead.

External factors are also playing a role. Rising uncertainty in the Middle East has reportedly prompted a segment of overseas Pakistanis to reassess their international investment holdings, with many turning attention toward established, well-developed housing projects back home as a comparatively secure option.

The combined effect of these dynamics has been reflected in pricing trends, with residential property values in several key cities climbing by an estimated 10 to 15 percent in recent weeks. Analysts note, however, that this growth is uneven, shaped largely by limited inventory in high-demand locations rather than a uniform market-wide surge.

Looking ahead, real estate professionals are calling for continued reform, particularly simplified taxation procedures and modernised land record systems to sustain investor confidence. 

At the same time, experts continue to urge caution, advising buyers to independently verify ownership documentation, project approvals, and development status before committing funds, rather than basing decisions solely on recent price appreciation.

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Punjab Government Pushes Vertical Urban Expansion
CategoriesNews Construction Developments Property Real Estate Urban Developments & Planning

Punjab Government Pushes Vertical Urban Expansion to Meet Housing Demand at Lahore Real Estate Conference

LAHORE: Punjab’s Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering, Bilal Yaseen, has identified vertical construction as a critical pillar of Pakistan’s urban future, arguing that high-rise development is now indispensable given the country’s expanding population and diminishing land resources.

Speaking at a live podcast session held as part of Pakistan’s first Real Estate CEOs Conference featuring a sitting provincial housing minister, Yaseen said that rising urbanisation pressures leave little alternative to building upward.

He noted that carefully planned high-rise projects allow cities to expand sustainably while making the most of existing infrastructure, and reaffirmed that government policy would prioritise developments meeting modern construction benchmarks to support organised urban growth.

He further underlined the importance of ongoing coordination between government bodies and private developers, suggesting that collaborative policy-making is essential to build investor trust and sustain momentum in the real estate sector.

The conference, organised by Alif Holdings, drew together policymakers, developers, investors and media figures to deliberate on housing policy, urban planning reforms, the investment climate and prospects for public-private partnership.

The discussion was moderated by veteran journalist Mansoor Ali Khan, with television anchors Waseem Badami and Shahzeb Iqbal in attendance alongside senior figures from the real estate industry.

Alif Holdings CEO Ahmed Saljouk described the real estate sector as a significant contributor to Pakistan’s economy, stressing that its long-term prospects hinge on sustained dialogue between industry and government.

He said the conference was designed to give stakeholders a shared platform to raise concerns and shape workable solutions, adding that his company intends to continue hosting similar forums.

Participants at the event echoed calls for more consistent policy frameworks, greater regulatory transparency, and deeper public-private cooperation measures, which they said would be key to strengthening investor confidence and supporting sustainable urban expansion across Pakistan.

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