CDA Amendment Bill 2025: A Historic Shield for Islamabad’s Genuine Affectees

Islamabad — In a major breakthrough for hundreds of thousands of long-awaited land compensation claimants, federal government has resolved a decades-old dispute following direct intervention by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the efforts of his adviser, Dr. Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah.

A wave of relief swept through Islamabad’s genuine affected communities as they publicly thanked the Prime Minister and Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah for protecting their legal rights and securing future of their kids.

According to sources, a pivotal decision by Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court on 30 October 2024 had declared the CDA’s compensation policy for built-up properties legally invalid. Shortly afterward, in November 2024, the Capital Development Authority introduced the Islamabad Rehabilitation Regulation 2024 (IRR-2024), limiting compensation strictly to cash and abolishing the long-standing entitlement of genuine landowners to receive alternative plots or BUP allotments in return for their acquired land.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected the controversial policy, terming it unfair and detrimental to the rights of Islamabad’s original affectees.

On his instruction, the CDA was directed to withdraw the IRR-2024 in its entirety.

Sources further revealed that PM’s Adviser Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah briefed both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari in detail on the genuine issues faced by Islamabad’s real affectees.

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Due to efforts of Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah, a revised CDA Amendment Ordinance was drafted and formally approved by the President in May 2025 and later was passed by the National Assembly.

Under the newly issued ordinance, genuine affectees in various CDA’a acquired sectors will now receive compensation not only in cash, but also through land sharing options and alternative allotment mechanisms. Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner of CDA will be authorized to issue two separate awards, one for land and another for built-up properties, effectively restoring the right to separate compensation for both land and built structures.

Officials confirm that this legislative step has brought long-awaited clarity, ending years of uncertainty caused by previous CDA policies and ensuring that the children and families of affectees can finally secure their rightful entitlements.

Affectees across Islamabad have expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and PM’s Adviser Dr. Tauqir Hussain Shah for championing their cause, steering the ordinance through Parliament, and reinstating the policy allowing compensation against their land and built-up properties.