CDA lowers mandatory parking requirement for commercial high-rise buildings, aiming to facilitate investment and ease construction challenges.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has introduced a major change to building regulations in Islamabad by easing parking requirements for high-rise commercial projects.
The revised policy reduces the mandatory parking provision from one parking space for every 750 square feet of covered area to one parking space for every 1,000 square feet.
The decision was approved during the 10th CDA Board meeting of 2026, chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Sohail Ashraf at the authority’s headquarters on Saturday.
Officials said the move is designed to support commercial development and create a more business-friendly environment in the federal capital.
According to the CDA, the updated regulation aligns Islamabad’s parking standards with those implemented by urban planning and development authorities in other major cities.
The authority believes the revised framework will simplify construction requirements while encouraging investment in commercial real estate.
During the meeting, board members were informed that the previous parking rule had created significant challenges for developers and builders. In several cases, commercial projects required excavation of as many as six basement levels to comply with parking obligations.
Such extensive underground construction not only increased project costs but also raised concerns related to engineering feasibility, structural stability, and safety.
The revision comes after repeated requests from stakeholders, including the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), members of the business community, real estate developers, and builders.
These groups had urged the CDA to review the policy and adopt more practical parking standards to support commercial activity.
The new regulation has taken immediate effect and will also apply to commercial plots being offered in the CDA’s open auction scheduled from August 4 to August 6, 2026.
The authority confirmed that auction terms and conditions will be updated to reflect the revised parking requirements.
CDA officials stated that the policy change is expected to streamline the approval process for commercial building plans and stimulate construction activity across Islamabad.
Chairman Sohail Ashraf emphasized that the authority will continue introducing investor-friendly and facilitative measures aimed at promoting planned urban development, attracting investment, and supporting sustainable growth in the capital city.