CDA BOARD APPROVES RATIONALIZATION OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH-RISE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN ISLAMABAD

Date: Aug 03, 2026

ISLAMABAD: August 1, 2026: The 10th meeting of the CDA Board for the year 2026 was held on Saturday at CDA Headquarters under the chairmanship of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Sohail Ashraf. The meeting was attended by Member Administration Esfandyar Baloch, Member Finance and Member Planning Muhammad Umair, Member Estate Muhammad Zaman Wattoo, Member Building Asmat Sharif Dhillon, Board Member Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali, Vice Chancellor of Punjab University, along with other relevant officers. During the meeting, the CDA Board approved amendments to the Building Control Regulations, 2023, aimed at rationalizing parking requirements for high-rise commercial buildings in Islamabad. Under the approved amendments, the requirement for commercial buildings has been revised to one car parking space per 1,000 square feet. The revised standard has been introduced after reviewing the regulatory frameworks and parking requirements adopted by regulatory authorities in other major cities of Pakistan. The meeting was informed that previously, commercial buildings were required to provide one car parking space per 750 square feet. Builders and developers had been facing considerable difficulties in meeting this requirement, particularly in high-rise commercial projects. In some cases, the existing requirement necessitated underground excavation for up to approximately six basements, resulting in structural, safety and construction-related challenges. The meeting was further informed that the demand for rationalizing the parking requirement to one space per 1,000 square feet had repeatedly been raised before the CDA by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business community, builders, developers and other relevant stakeholders. The revised parking requirement will come into effect immediately and will also apply to the CDA's upcoming open auction of commercial plots scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6, 2026, as well as future open auctions. Accordingly, the auction terms and conditions will also be amended to incorporate the revised parking standard. The decision is expected to facilitate the approval of building plans for commercial projects, reduce construction-related challenges and significantly promote construction and investment activities in Islamabad. Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Sohail Ashraf, said that the CDA would continue to introduce facilitative measures aimed at supporting the city's development, improving planning standards, attracting investment and promoting construction activities in Islamabad.