The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken back more than 2,490 kanals of government land in Islamabad as part of an ongoing crackdown on encroachments.
The campaign covers illegal occupation, unauthorized construction and the commercial use of public land across the capital.
According to the CDA, more than 1,400 kanals were recovered from areas including the former Muslim Colony. Another 712 kanals had been reclaimed in an earlier phase, while 320 kanals were recovered from Saidpur and areas around the National Park.
The authority said the recovered land is worth billions of rupees. It added that occupants were served notices and the required legal process was completed before the land was reclaimed.
The CDA used satellite imagery, digital mapping and geo-mapping tools to establish the boundaries of government and National Park land.
In Sector E-12, the authority recovered around 290 kanals from illegal occupation and unauthorized use. This included nearly 16 kanals of CDA land in E-12/2 that had been used for private security staff accommodation, a holiday home and 14 shops operating on rent.
The CDA said the land was handed back to the authority after relevant records were examined and legal and administrative requirements were completed. Development activities can now proceed on the site.
The authority has also begun action against unauthorized buildings along the Islamabad Expressway Service Road East. The review covers approved building plans, regularization charges, outstanding government dues and fire-safety requirements.
Separate anti-encroachment operations in the greenbelts of H-9 and I-9 removed multiple illegal structures, including seven shops, nine temporary hotels, seven rooms, seven tandoors, four washrooms, three marble stalls, three containers, three sheds and a service station.
The CDA said drones, digital maps and Google Earth monitoring will be used to keep watch over the recovered land and prevent new encroachments.
It has also directed relevant departments to speed up infrastructure development and the handover of plots to eligible allottees, particularly in E-12.
