CDA Eases Parking Rules for Islamabad Commercial High-Rises
CDA Board approves amendments to Building Control Regulations 2023, increasing the parking allocation standard from one space per 750 sq ft to one per 1,000 sq ft for commercial high-rise buildings.
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board has approved key amendments to the Building Control Regulations 2023, providing significant relief to developers of commercial high-rise buildings in Islamabad.
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, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali (Board Member), and other senior officials.
Revised Parking Requirement
Under the revised regulations, commercial high-rise buildings will now be required to provide one parking space for every 1,000 square feet of covered area, replacing the previous requirement of one parking space per 750 square feet.
According to the briefing, the earlier requirement created significant challenges for builders and developers, often forcing them to construct up to six underground basements while facing complex geological and safety issues.
The CDA said the revised standard was adopted after reviewing the regulatory frameworks of other major cities in Pakistan and considering repeated recommendations from the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), the business community, builders, developers, and other stakeholders.
Implementation
The new policy takes immediate effect and will apply to the CDA’s upcoming commercial plot auctions scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6, as well as all future open auctions. Auction terms and conditions will also be updated accordingly.
Chairman Sohail Ashraf said the decision would facilitate building plan approvals, boost construction activity, encourage investment, and support Islamabad’s planned urban development.
