# Which housing society is best in Islamabad? Approved vs illegal, as of Oct 2026

URL: https://which.pk/property/guides/best-housing-society-islamabad/
Author: Ahtisham Imtiaz
Updated: 14 Oct 2026

## Summary

As of 14 October 2026, CDA's website lists 70 private housing schemes in Islamabad, but only 31 have both an approved layout plan and an NOC, which CDA requires before plots are sold. Its illegal list has 98 entries. In Rawalpindi district, RDA lists 78 approved and 610 illegal societies. Status often differs by phase: Capital Smart City's main scheme is RDA approved, its Phase II is not. CDA sectors and FGEHA schemes are the lowest-risk route.

## Key facts

- CDA approved list: 70 private schemes, 31 with NOC (14 Oct 2026)
- CDA illegal list: 98 entries on cda.gov.pk (14 Oct 2026)
- RDA lists: 78 approved, 610 illegal (14 Oct 2026)
- Lowest-risk route: CDA sectors and FGEHA schemes

The best housing society in Islamabad is, first of all, an approved one, and you can check that for free. As of **14 October 2026**, CDA's website lists **70 private housing schemes, but only 31 have an NOC**, plus **98 entries on its illegal list**. Across the district line, RDA lists **78 approved and 610 illegal societies**. We don't rank societies here: this guide shows the official status of the big names and how to check any scheme yourself.

Two authorities matter. CDA, the Capital Development Authority, regulates planning and development in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). RDA, the Rawalpindi Development Authority, approves schemes in Rawalpindi district, including Rawalpindi, Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta.

## How does CDA approve a housing society?

CDA approves a private scheme in two steps: first the layout plan, called the LOP, then a no-objection certificate (NOC) for development. CDA says sponsors can start development work and sell plots **only after the NOC is issued**. When the work matches the approved plan, CDA issues a completion certificate.

Since 7 July 2023 private schemes follow CDA's 2023 regulations for Zones 2, 4 and 5 (S.R.O 886(I)/2023). Private housing has been allowed in Zone 2, Zone 5 and Sector E-11 since 1992, and in Zone 4 since 2010.

## Which housing societies in Islamabad are CDA approved?

CDA's private housing schemes page listed 70 schemes on 14 October 2026. It shows no "last updated" date. We counted the status fields ourselves, so the split below is our tally, not a CDA figure.

| CDA status on the list | Schemes |
|---|---|
| LOP approved, NOC issued | 31 |
| LOP approved, NOC not issued | 19 |
| LOP approved, NOC cancelled | 5 |
| LOP cancelled | 12 |
| Provisional LOP, NOC not issued | 2 |
| LOP approved, no NOC status shown (Tele Town) | 1 |

So fewer than half of the schemes on CDA's list show the NOC that CDA requires before plots are sold. By zone, 39 are in Zone 5, 18 in Zone 2, 12 in Zone 4 and 1 in Zone 1.

One more limit: CDA controls building in private schemes, but plot allotments and transfers are made by the sponsors "without any check or involvement of CDA". For co-operative societies, the Deputy Commissioner/Registrar Co-operative Societies, ICT handles allotment matters; SECP regulates private limited companies.

## Which housing societies in Islamabad are illegal?

CDA's illegal schemes page had **98 entries** on 14 October 2026, the same count Zameen reported on 7 May 2026. The Pakistan Connect reported on 2 August 2026 that a CDA Planning Wing notice named 99 schemes in Zones III and IV. We follow the live CDA page, so the count is about 98 to 99; some entries are duplicates or spelling variants, so the number of distinct schemes is lower.

The entries cluster on Lehtrar Road, Simly Dam Road, Kirpa Road, Kuri Road, Park Road, Islamabad Expressway and Bani Gala. Examples include Ghouri Town (all phases) on Islamabad Expressway, Japan Valley Kirpa, Shaheen Town 1-4 and Royal City on Lehtrar Road, Media City-1 on Kirpa Road, and Simly Valley (1&2).

**Not on the illegal list does not mean legal:** CDA sealed the offices of Islamabad Green Paradise in May 2026 (The News) and of Al-Amin Garden Phase-I in September 2026 (CDA notice of 2 Sep 2026). Neither is on the 98-entry web list. Check that a scheme is on the approved list with an NOC, not only that it is missing from the illegal one.

Buying in an illegal scheme carries real costs. CDA told the authorities not to give electricity or gas connections to the schemes it sealed in May 2026, and said sale and purchase of land and homes in illegal schemes is prohibited. The August 2026 notice warned that plot owners may struggle to get building approvals, utilities, and ownership papers recognised by banks or courts, and that regularisation or compensation cannot be guaranteed.

## Which housing societies are RDA approved in Rawalpindi?

RDA's approved list had **78 societies** on 14 October 2026; the newest record was updated on 3 October 2026. Its illegal list had **610 societies**, the newest (Fazaia Housing Scheme Tarnol, Tehsil Taxila) added on 10 September 2026. The "unapproved" list returned no records.

RDA's approval notes are free text. In our count, 7 say "final NOC issued", 35 "town planning approved", 7 "LOP approved", 7 were approved by a TMA or council and 4 by PHATA. RDA says to confirm PHATA-approved schemes with PHATA directly.

On the illegal list, 492 of the 610 records carry a created date of 8 May 2025. That looks like the date the list was loaded into RDA's new website, not the date each scheme was declared illegal.

## Are the big names in Islamabad and Rawalpindi approved?

The table copies the official lists; it is not our judgement. Status often differs by phase, so check the exact project you are offered.

| Society | Authority | Status on the official list | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Park View City](/property/islamabad/park-view-city-islamabad/) (Zone 4, 1,067.90 kanal) | CDA | LOP approved, NOC approved | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/park-view-city-housing-scheme) |
| Park View City Rawalpindi (old name Mega City Gujjar Khan) and Park View City Phase II near Rawat | RDA | Illegal | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ihs) |
| [Capital Smart City](/property/islamabad/capital-smart-city/) (Chahan, 7,376 kanal) | RDA | Approved | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ahs) |
| Capital Smart City Phase II and Extension | RDA | Illegal | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ihs) |
| [Blue World City](/property/islamabad/blue-world-city/) | RDA | Illegal | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ihs) |
| [New Metro City](/property/islamabad/new-metro-city/) (Gujar Khan, G.T Road) | RDA | Illegal | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/backend/api/societies/illegal?page=2&limit=500) |
| Bahria Town Phase II, III, V & VI | CDA | LOP approved, NOC issued (remark: litigation over undeveloped public buildings and park area) | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/bahria-town-phase-iiiiiv-vi) |
| Bahria Town Phase VII | CDA | LOP approved, NOC not issued (Phase VII-E has an NOC) | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/bahria-town-phase-vii) |
| Bahria Enclave Phase-I | CDA | LOP approved, NOC not issued | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/bahria-enclave-phase-i-housing-scheme) |
| Bahria Town Phase I-III (partly) and Phase VIII | RDA | Approved (town planning / LOP) | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ahs) |
| Bahria Town Phase VIII Extension, Lari Miana, Dhagal and Kallar Syedan | RDA | Illegal | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ihs) |
| Gulberg Greens (farm housing, Zone 4) | CDA | LOP approved, NOC issued | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/gulberg-greens-farm-housing-scheme) |
| Gulberg Residencia (Zone 5) | CDA | LOP approved, NOC issued | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/gulberg-residencia-ibechs-ph-iii-housing-scheme) |
| Multi Gardens B-17 Phase-I | CDA | LOP approved, NOC issued | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/multi-gardens-phase-i) |
| Multi Gardens Phase-II | CDA | LOP approved, NOC for planning only | 14 Oct 2026 | [CDA](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/multi-gardens-phase-ii) |
| Top City (Bijnial, 9,681 kanal) | RDA | Approved | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ahs) |
| Faisal Hills and Faisal Margalla City | RDA | Final NOC issued | 14 Oct 2026 | [RDA](https://rda.gop.pk/ahs) |
| DHA Islamabad | Own Act (2013) | Not on CDA's or RDA's lists | 14 Oct 2026 | [APP](https://www.app.com.pk/national/senate-passes-the-defence-housing-authority-islamabad-amendment-bill-2023-to-enhance-governance-security/) |

An NOC is not the end of the story. CDA's detail pages list show cause notices for Bahria Town Phase II, III, V & VI (final notice, 1 Oct 2025), Bahria Enclave Phase-I (March 2026), Gulberg Residencia (3 Dec 2025) and Gulberg Greens (29 Apr 2026). We saw only their titles and dates, not what they say.

Multi Gardens Phase-II says "Issued" on CDA's main list, but its detail page calls it an "NOC for Planning". The sponsor must still get a formal NOC from the local development agency, so we follow the detail page.

**Same brand, different status:** Park View City, Capital Smart City and Bahria Town each have approved parts and parts on an illegal list. Ask for the exact phase, block and location in writing, then find that entry on the official list.

## How do I check a society's NOC myself?

Our [society approval check](/property/tools/society-approval-check/) searches CDA's and RDA's approved and illegal lists (and LDA's) in one box, with each scheme's layout plan and NOC status. Confirm what it shows on the authority's own page.

1. **Find the authority.** Land in Islamabad Capital Territory comes under CDA; land in Rawalpindi district comes under RDA. DHA Islamabad and FGEHA are public bodies with their own schemes.
2. **For CDA, open cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes** and find the scheme. Each entry shows the LOP status and the NOC status. Look for an issued NOC, not only an approved layout plan.
3. **Open the scheme's detail page.** Read the remarks and the documents section: that is where conditions such as "NOC for planning" and show cause notices appear.
4. **Search cda.gov.pk/illegal-housing-schemes** for the name, but remember a missing name is not proof the scheme is legal.
5. **For RDA, open rda.gop.pk/ahs and rda.gop.pk/ihs** and search both. RDA says to check the live page and never rely on screenshots shared on social media. For a PHATA-approved scheme, ask PHATA.
6. **Match the phase and location.** Check that the phase, mauza (revenue village) and area you are buying in are the ones on the approved entry.

CDA itself tells buyers to make sure the sponsor has a CDA NOC before investing, and says the latest status and approved layout plans are on its website.

## Why are CDA sectors and FGEHA schemes the lowest-risk route?

In CDA sectors and FGEHA schemes, a public body is the developer, so the LOP and NOC rules for private sponsors don't apply. CDA itself developed the first FGEHA sectors, as the table below shows.

FGEHA, the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority, has delivered several sectors:

| FGEHA scheme | Sectors | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I (1989) | I-8, G-11 | CDA plots placed with FGEHA; CDA developed them |
| Phase II (1992) | E-12, D-12 | CDA plots placed with FGEHA; CDA developed them |
| Phase III (launched 1996) | G-13, G-14/4 | 6,028 plots in G-13 and 659 in G-14/4; FGEHA has done development and maintenance since March 2015 |
| Phase IV | G-14/1, 2, 3 | Development awarded in 2012 |
| Sector F-14/15 | F-14, F-15 | Active; a notice of 29 Sep 2026 covers allottees with 5 installments due as of 31 Jul 2026 |
| Park Road / Margalla Orchard | Park Road | Run by FGEHA; compensation notice to land owners in February 2023 |

Use only FGEHA's own website, fgeha.gov.pk. FGEHA warned on 17 February 2025 that fgeha.org is a fake copy, and on 7 October 2026 it said an "affidavit" about Park Road circulating on social media was not issued by FGEHA and has no binding effect.

## Where does DHA Islamabad fit?

DHA Islamabad is governed by its own law, the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Act, 2013. It does not appear on CDA's private schemes list or on RDA's lists. In July 2023 the Senate passed an amendment bill letting the authority make its own regulations and bye-laws and set fees, APP reported; read our [DHA Islamabad review](/property/islamabad/dha-islamabad/) for the full picture.

## Which is the best housing society in Islamabad for investment?

We don't pick one in a guide. Approval is only the first of seven things we score, alongside possession, prices, utilities, the developer, location and resale, as set out in our [methodology](/methodology/). Start with the scored reviews linked in the table above, and compare only schemes whose exact phase holds an NOC.

More guides: [LDA approved and illegal societies list](/property/guides/lda-approved-societies-list/), [Capital Smart City review](/property/islamabad/capital-smart-city/), [Blue World City review](/property/islamabad/blue-world-city/), [Park View City Islamabad review](/property/islamabad/park-view-city-islamabad/).

## Capital Smart City: facts and scorecard

- Approval: RDA: partly approved
- 5 marla plot: Rs 30.41 lakh
- Possession: Partly given
- Our score: 4.5/10

- Legal status: 4/10 (7,376 kanal is on RDA's approved list (May 2026), but RDA lists 'Phase II' and 'Extension' as illegal (Mar 2026) and acted against Phase-III in 2025 and 2026.)
- Possession & development: 5/10 (Developer says Overseas East, Prime 1, Central and Executive 1 were handed over 2020 to 2024, some sectors only partly; Overseas West, Prime 2 and Executive West still waiting. No independent check.)
- Price & appreciation: 5/10 (5 marla asking prices up 42% from Jun 2021 to Aug 2026, after a dip in 2024; the 5 marla average sits below, and the 10 marla average close to, the developer's own Aug 2024 Overseas West booking prices.)
- Utilities: Not enough evidence yet (Only the developer's own claims: water from its tube-wells (FAQ, undated); no IESCO source on electricity and no source on gas.)
- Developer track record: 4/10 (Some blocks delivered, but possession ran late, RDA has acted against unapproved extensions in 2018, 2025 and 2026, and 2026 cancellations refund with a 25% deduction.)
- Location: 4/10 (On the M-2 near Islamabad International Airport, but about 34 km in a straight line from Zero Point.)
- Resale liquidity: 5/10 (Zameen has run a price index since 2018 and files transfer once 20% is paid; no listing counts or time-to-sell data.)

## Blue World City: facts and scorecard

- Approval: Not approved
- 5 marla plot: Rs 21.03 lakh
- Possession: Partly given
- Our score: 2.8/10

- Legal status: 1/10 (On RDA's illegal list (updated Mar 2026), first declared illegal in 2018; nothing on the approved list.)
- Possession & development: 3/10 (Developer says General Block and parts of Overseas Block have possession; no independent check.)
- Price & appreciation: 5/10 (5 marla asking prices doubled from Rs 10.1 lakh (Jun 2021) to Rs 21 lakh (Aug 2026), but flat stretches in 2025-26 suggest thin data.)
- Utilities: Not enough evidence yet (Only developer claims; RDA asked IESCO and SNGPL in 2021 not to serve illegal schemes.)
- Developer track record: 2/10 (2021 FIR over alleged encroachment on 1,250 kanals of state land and a NAB inquiry; land owned is disputed (1,534 kanals per Profit vs 250,000+ claimed).)
- Location: 3/10 (Off Chakri Road, about 21 km in a straight line from Islamabad's airport and 41 km from Zero Point.)
- Resale liquidity: 3/10 (Plots trade (Zameen has tracked asking prices since 2018), but RDA asked the Cyber Crime Wing in 2025 to ban online plot sales and transfers in illegal schemes; no time-to-sell data.)

## Park View City Islamabad: facts and scorecard

- Approval: CDA: partly approved
- 5 marla plot: Rs 98.96 lakh
- Possession: Partly given
- Our score: 5.8/10

- Legal status: 6/10 (The original 1,068 kanals has a CDA NOC and layout plan (Oct 2026); the 2025 extension has a layout plan only, with sales barred until a separate NOC.)
- Possession & development: 5/10 (The developer claims infrastructure is complete, but Overseas Block possession promised for June 2023 was still partial in June 2024 (one low-profile source).)
- Price & appreciation: 8/10 (5 marla asking prices roughly doubled from Rs 48.1 lakh (Jun 2021) to Rs 99 lakh (Aug 2026), a series high.)
- Utilities: Not enough evidence yet (No SNGPL, IESCO or independent evidence; CDA makes water and sewage the sponsor's responsibility.)
- Developer track record: 4/10 (CDA said it encroached government land for road access, the IHC held the NOC void (CDA cancelled it in January 2021), and NAB's probe closed only under the amended law (2023).)
- Location: 6/10 (Inside Islamabad (Zone 4) on Malot Road, about 23 km by road from Zero Point.)
- Resale liquidity: 6/10 (459 plots listed on Zameen (Oct 2026) and a price index since 2017; no transaction data.)

## New Metro City Gujar Khan: facts and scorecard

- Approval: Not approved
- 5 marla plot: Rs 28.53 lakh
- Possession: Unclear
- Our score: 2.7/10

- Legal status: 1/10 (On RDA's illegal list (Mar 2026), not on its approved list; the 2022 layout-plan approval was put under inquiry.)
- Possession & development: 2/10 (No neutral confirmation of handover; NAB inquired over non-delivery from Sept 2024 and 383 buyers took refunds in Oct 2025.)
- Price & appreciation: 4/10 (5 marla asking prices sat near the Dec 2022 listed price until mid-2026, then rose to Rs 28.5 lakh by Aug 2026.)
- Utilities: Not enough evidence yet (No utility-company or news source on gas, electricity or water.)
- Developer track record: 3/10 (BSM Developers: NAB inquiry and Rs767m refunds in Gujar Khan, but its Lahore (Ravi) project has RUDA final sanction for 589 kanals.)
- Location: 3/10 (On GT Road at Gujar Khan, about 32 km in a straight line from Rawat; Dawn reports nullahs and a railway line through the site.)
- Resale liquidity: 3/10 (The 5 marla index sat unchanged from at least Jun 2025 to Apr 2026, and in Feb 2026 hundreds of buyers were still asking NAB to process refunds.)

## Questions people ask

### How do I check if a housing society is CDA approved?

Open cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes and find the scheme: each entry shows its layout plan (LOP) status and NOC status, with a detail page and documents. CDA says sponsors may develop and sell plots only after the NOC is issued, so look for an issued NOC, not just an approved layout plan.

### How many illegal housing societies are there in Islamabad?

As of 14 October 2026, CDA's illegal schemes page lists 98 entries, and a CDA notice reported in August 2026 named 99. CDA has also sealed schemes that are not on that page, so a missing name does not mean a scheme is legal.

### Which body approves housing societies in Rawalpindi?

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). As of 14 October 2026 its website lists 78 approved and 610 illegal societies. RDA says to check the page live rather than trust screenshots, and to confirm PHATA-approved schemes with PHATA directly.

### Is Blue World City approved?

As of 14 October 2026, Blue World City is on RDA's list of illegal housing societies, and no part of it is on RDA's approved list.

### Is Park View City Islamabad approved?

Park View City Housing Scheme in Zone 4, Islamabad shows LOP approved and NOC approved on CDA's list (checked 14 October 2026). Park View City Rawalpindi (formerly Mega City Gujjar Khan) and Park View City Phase II near Rawat are on RDA's illegal list.

## Sources

- [CDA - Private Housing Schemes](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [CDA - Illegal Housing Schemes](https://www.cda.gov.pk/illegal-housing-schemes), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Sealing of site/management offices of illegal scheme 'Al-Amin Garden Phase-I' (notice dated 2 Sep 2026)](https://cda.gov.pk/storage/public_notices/fbVEnAhgXc9PoHBDxzoIzGRvTpY4RSilcygXPBYJ.pdf), CDA Planning Wing, Directorate of Regional Planning (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Park View City Housing Scheme - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/park-view-city-housing-scheme), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Bahria Town, Phase-II, III, V & VI - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/bahria-town-phase-iiiiiv-vi), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Bahria Town, Phase VII - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/bahria-town-phase-vii), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Bahria Enclave Phase-I Housing Scheme - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/bahria-enclave-phase-i-housing-scheme), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Gulberg Greens Farm Housing Scheme - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/gulberg-greens-farm-housing-scheme), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Gulberg Residencia (IBECHS Ph-III) - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/gulberg-residencia-ibechs-ph-iii-housing-scheme), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Multi Gardens, Phase-I (B-17) - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/multi-gardens-phase-i), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Multi Gardens, Phase-II - details](https://www.cda.gov.pk/housing-schemes/multi-gardens-phase-ii), Capital Development Authority (CDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Approved Housing Societies](https://rda.gop.pk/ahs), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Illegal Housing Societies](https://rda.gop.pk/ihs), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Illegal Housing Societies (data, page 2)](https://rda.gop.pk/backend/api/societies/illegal?page=2&limit=500), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Completed Projects](https://www.fgeha.gov.pk/completed-projects/), Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [FGEHA home page (news and notice board)](https://www.fgeha.gov.pk/), Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Public notice regarding Park Road/Margalla Orchard Housing Scheme (7 Oct 2026)](https://www.fgeha.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Public-Notice-Regarding-Park-Road.pdf), Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [Senate passes 'The Defence Housing Authority Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, 2023'](https://www.app.com.pk/national/senate-passes-the-defence-housing-authority-islamabad-amendment-bill-2023-to-enhance-governance-security/), Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [CDA launches crackdown against illegal housing societies in Zone IV](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1413835-cda-launches-crackdown-against-illegal-housing-societies-in-zone-iv), The News (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [RDA issues advisory against illegal societies](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1407287-rda-issues-advisory-against-illegal-societies), The News (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [CDA updates list of illegal housing schemes](https://www.zameen.com/news/cda-updates-list-of-illegal-housing-schemes.html), Zameen News (accessed 14 Oct 2026)
- [CDA releases list of nearly 100 illegal housing schemes in Islamabad](https://thepakistanconnect.com/cda-list-illegal-housing-schemes-islamabad/), The Pakistan Connect (accessed 14 Oct 2026)