NAB Reveals Thousands of Kanal Public Land Transferred to CDA Irregularly

The National Accountability Bureau has revealed that thousands of kanal of amenity and public utility land have been transferred to the Capital Development Authority through a process that raises serious accountability concerns. The disclosure points to potential irregularities in the management and reallocation of land originally designated for public use in the capital territory.

Amenity and public utility land is legally protected under urban planning frameworks to ensure the availability of green spaces, schools, hospitals, and civic facilities within residential and commercial zones. Unauthorised or irregular transfers of such land to administrative bodies can undermine master plan integrity and deprive communities of essential services.

NAB's intervention suggests that the bureau is examining whether the transfers were carried out with proper legal authority and in accordance with prescribed procedures. The scale of the alleged irregularities, involving thousands of kanal, would represent a significant land governance failure in one of Pakistan's most regulated urban environments.

The CDA, as the primary urban planning and development authority for Islamabad, is subject to strict land management rules. Any finding of systematic irregularity could have implications for senior officials within the authority and potentially for political figures who may have overseen or sanctioned the transfers.