Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed the Capital Development Authority to fully digitize all of its records within 120 days, in a move that would allow citizens to track the status of their applications online and reduce their dependence on in-person visits to CDA offices for routine matters. Naqvi chaired a high-level meeting to review ongoing public projects and new development initiatives in the federal capital, during which he emphasised that no illegal housing societies will be permitted to operate in Islamabad and praised CDA officials for exposing corruption within the authority, affirming that no one involved in corruption will receive leniency.
The 120-day digitization directive builds on work that the CDA has already begun in a phased manner. According to documents, 23,036 residential properties in 47 sectors and model towns, and all 5,657 commercial properties including agro farms’ records from first to last transfer, have already been digitised, with CDA having launched formal digital processing of property-related matters and transitioning from the traditional filing system to an organised digital workflow system. The pilot rollout began with Sector D-12, where every application submitted online is now processed through an electronic procedure, with all payments made cashless and real-time monitoring of all transactions ensured. The authority confirmed that all land records have been securely digitised, which will not only reduce the risk of data loss or damage but also enhance coordination and collaboration between various departments, with other sectors to be gradually incorporated into the system in the near future.
The meeting also covered the pre-qualification of three international firms for the construction of a new convention centre, expo centre, and Islamabad Arena, with instructions to complete these projects ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The SCO deadline adds a layer of urgency to the broader infrastructure and governance improvements being driven through CDA, as the federal capital’s public-facing administrative systems will come under international scrutiny when the summit takes place. Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa stated that the digitization measures will not only enhance the institution’s performance but will also help eliminate corrupt elements and red tapism, with citizens who have visited the One Window Facilitation Centre already voicing appreciation for the steps taken and requesting that similar systems be extended to other sectors at the earliest. With the 120-day clock now formally running, the CDA’s ability to deliver full digitization across all its records and services will be one of the more closely watched governance tests for Islamabad’s civic administration in the months ahead.
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