Islamabad, August 1: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board has approved amendments to the Building Control Regulations 2023, easing parking requirements for high-rise commercial buildings in Islamabad to encourage construction activity and investment.
The decision was taken during the 10th CDA Board meeting of 2026, chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Sohail Ashraf. The meeting was attended by Member Administration, Member Finance, Member Planning, Member Estate, Member Building, Professor Dr Muhammad Ali, Vice Chancellor of Punjab University and CDA Board member, along with other senior officials.
Under the revised regulations, developers will now be required to provide one parking space for every 1,000 square feet of commercial floor area, compared with the previous requirement of one parking space for every 750 square feet.
According to the CDA, the revised standard aligns Islamabad’s regulations with those adopted by regulatory authorities in other major cities across Pakistan.
Officials informed the Board that the previous requirement had created significant challenges for builders and developers, often forcing them to construct as many as six basement levels to meet parking requirements, leading to increased construction costs, engineering complexities, and safety concerns related to underground excavation.
The proposal to revise the parking requirement had been repeatedly recommended by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), the business community, builders, developers, and other stakeholders.
The new policy will take immediate effect and will apply to the CDA’s upcoming open auction scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6, as well as all future commercial plot auctions. The authority said the auction’s terms and conditions will also be amended to reflect the revised parking standards.
The CDA said the decision is expected to simplify the approval process for commercial building plans, encourage construction activity, attract investment, and support the planned development of the federal capital.
Chairman Sohail Ashraf reaffirmed the CDA’s commitment to promoting urban development, improving planning standards, facilitating investment, and creating a more business-friendly environment in Islamabad.
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