Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced a significant increase in property transfer fees within its jurisdiction, raising the rate from 1% to 3% of the property’s value as determined by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The revised rates apply to all properties leased, allotted, or sold by CDA.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the CDA Board held on July 1, 2025, and has since been notified officially. The authority has also revised other related charges, including the change of title fee and fees associated with general power of attorney.
As per the notification, the new transfer fee rate of 3% replaces the earlier 1%, representing a threefold increase in costs for property buyers in Islamabad’s CDA-administered areas. For instance, a property that previously incurred a PKR 35,000 transfer fee will now be subject to a PKR 105,000 charge under the updated rates.
The change of title fee through a sale deed remains at 0.5% of the FBR-notified property value, while transfer fees for cases such as family transfers, legal heir claims, oral gifts, and those involving general power of attorney will now be charged at 0.75%—up from the previous 0.25%.
A CDA official defended the move, stating that the fee structure had not been revised for several years. “Even with this increase, CDA’s rates are still lower than those charged by several private housing societies in Islamabad,” the official claimed.
A CDA spokesperson further explained that the increase aligns the authority’s transfer fees with current market conditions and FBR valuations. He added that there has been no increase in fee percentages for family-related transfers, despite a typographical error in the initial notification, which is being corrected.
The timing of the fee hike, however, may attract criticism from the real estate sector and the public, especially as the federal government recently reduced advance tax on property purchases from 3% to 1.5% in its FY2025–26 budget.
Analysts note that while the CDA retains the authority to revise charges, the move could impact transaction volumes and investor sentiment in the capital’s property market.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
