Capital Smart City Phase 3 represents the newest chapter in Pakistan’s ambitious “smart city” development. This latest expansion is being actively marketed with a strong emphasis on its strategic positioning and future potential, aiming to attract a new wave of discerning investors and residents.
Capital Smart City Phase 3: Location and Connectivity
Capital Smart City Phase 3 is prominently marketed for its strategic location, specifically at “Zero Kilometers from Islamabad International Airport”. This direct proximity is highlighted as offering “unique access and visibility” , making it particularly appealing, especially for overseas Pakistanis who frequently travel.
The project is situated adjacent to Airport Avenue (Thalian Interchange) and the M-2 Motorway, which facilitates seamless connectivity to major urban centers such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. The National Highway Authority (NHA) has already approved a dedicated interchange for the broader Capital Smart City on the M2 Motorway, further enhancing accessibility.
A significant future enhancement to connectivity is the Rawalpindi Ring Road. As of May 2025, this project is approximately 50% complete and is scheduled for completion by December 2025. This 38.3 km route will connect Banth (on N-5) to the Thalian Interchange, which is directly relevant to this phase.
The completion of this road is expected to significantly reduce traffic bottlenecks and boost property values across the corridor. Additional access points include Main Chakri Road, National Highway, Srinagar Highway (from Islamabad), and G.T. Road. The “Zero KM from Airport” positioning is consistently presented as a unique selling proposition , making this development inherently attractive for convenience and accessibility, particularly for international travelers.
However, the anticipated completion of the Rawalpindi Ring Road by December 2025 is explicitly framed as a major catalyst for future property value appreciation and enhanced connectivity. This indicates that a substantial portion of the projected value increase is tied to the successful and timely delivery of this external infrastructure project.
Therefore, while the current location offers advantages, investors are implicitly relying on the timely completion of the Rawalpindi Ring Road to fully realize the promised “high potential for ROI and future growth” for this development.
Capital Smart City Phase 3: The Master Plan
While the comprehensive master plan for Capital Smart City Phase 3 has “yet to be disclosed” given its early stages of development , it is widely anticipated to adhere to the high standards and design philosophy established by its previous phases.
The overall Capital Smart City master plan was conceptualized by Singapore’s Surbana Jurong (SJ), a globally renowned firm celebrated for its expertise in integrating sustainability and modern infrastructure. Consequently, this phase is expected to follow a globally aligned, smart, and eco-friendly model.
It is projected to incorporate improved zoning, eco-friendly amenities, and integration-ready infrastructure, building upon the features seen in earlier phases, which include a golf course, sports complex, commercial hubs, and green infrastructure.
Current visual perspectives from Google Earth (as of 2025) depict this area as cleared land directly across from the airport runway. Initial earthwork and road development are progressing, making the newly graded plots and main boulevard alignments distinctly visible. This imagery confirms its prime airport-adjacent positioning.
The total area allocated for this phase is stated as over 8000 Kanal. This fits within the broader Capital Smart City project’s approved land extension from an initial 55,000 Kanal to approximately 80,000 Kanal in August 2019, with the overall master plan being provisional and subject to further expansion over time.
This implies a dynamic, evolving development strategy where new phases, like this one, are integrated into an overarching but flexible plan. The fact that its master plan is “yet to be disclosed” reinforces this ongoing planning process.
Investors are therefore committing to a project where the precise, final layout, full scope of amenities, and development timelines for their specific plots within this phase might still be subject to adjustments as the master plan is finalized and further extensions are planned or approved. This requires a degree of flexibility and a commitment to continuous monitoring of official updates from the developers and regulatory bodies.
Investment Avenues in Capital Smart City Phase 3 and Financial Framework
Capital Smart City Phase 3 presents various investment opportunities, primarily centered around residential plots, with a focus on flexible payment plans and attractive pre-launch discounts.
Capital Smart City Phase 3 primarily offers residential plots in three main sizes: 5 Marla, 10 Marla, and 1 Kanal. These sizes are the current focus of pre-launch bookings and marketing efforts. In addition to residential plots, commercial plots are also available, intended to foster business and commercial opportunities within this new phase.
The following table summarizes the available residential plot sizes and their pricing, excluding development charges, as advertised during the pre-launch phase:
Table 1: Capital Smart City Phase 3 Residential Plot Sizes and Pricing (Excluding Development Charges)
| Plot Size | Full Price (PKR) | 17% Discount Price (PKR) | 22% Discount Price (PKR) | |
| 5 Marla | 2,900,000 | 2,395,000 | 2,260,000 | |
| 10 Marla | 5,750,000 | 4,770,000 | 4,480,000 | |
| 1 Kanal | 9,800,000 | 8,100,000 | 7,650,000 | |
| Source: |
This phase offers flexible payment plans designed to attract a wide range of investors. The primary payment structure involves installments spread over 4.5 years, comprising 18 quarterly installments. Significant discount options are available for pre-launch bookings: a 17% flat discount on the full price with a 10% down payment, and a more substantial 22% total discount (including a 5% bonus) for those making a 15% down payment.
Additional rebates are also available: a 10% discount for lump-sum payments and a 5% discount for 50% upfront payment. A non-refundable booking fee, typically ranging from PKR 12,000 to PKR 15,000, is required.
This phase is consistently described as being in its “early stages” of development. Marketing materials indicate that “Development Work” for this phase is “Starting Soon” , suggesting that significant on-ground construction is yet to commence. However, visual updates for 2025, including Google Earth imagery, show this area as “cleared land” across
Capital Smart City Phase 3: A Critical Examination of NOC Status
The legal and regulatory standing of Capital Smart City, particularly Capital Smart City Phase 3, presents a complex landscape with both established approvals for earlier phases and significant ambiguities and warnings concerning newer extensions. Understanding these nuances is crucial for any prospective investor.
The broader Capital Smart City project is officially recognized as a legal housing scheme, having received its No Objection Certificate (NOC) approval from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
This approval was granted in phases, with initial approval for 2000 Kanal on November 17, 2017, and a larger approval for 7,376 Kanal on September 21, 2019. As of February 2025, an additional 17,602 Kanal of land for the project remains “under process” for approval , indicating ongoing regulatory engagement for expanded areas. The project has also secured Sui Gas Network approval, with gas supply granted in 2023.
However, the legal status of this phase, specifically, is subject to significant conflicting information and official warnings, which are paramount for any investor. Official regulatory bodies have issued clear warnings:
- RDA Public Notice (September 4, 2018): The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) explicitly declared “Capital Smart City’s extension at Chakri Road, Rawalpindi illegal,” stating it was “not an approved housing society” and that Capital Smart City had “illegally advertised its extension.” Legal action was initiated, and the RDA strongly advised the public against investing in such schemes.
- RDA Show Cause Notice (July 17, 2025): More recently, RDA issued a show cause notice to a private company for marketing an “illegal housing scheme, Capital Smart City Phase-III, located near Thalian Interchange M-2, Tehsil Rawalpindi” on social media. This indicates a continued regulatory challenge specific to this phase.
In contrast, marketing materials present a mixed picture: some sources explicitly state that this phase’s NOC is “not approved” or “yet to be issued” , while others claim it is “backed by NOC and planning permissions” and is being marketed as “Officially Launched”.
Affiliates of the developers attempt to reconcile these discrepancies by explaining that extensions necessitate a re-application for NOC, and during this review, the status might temporarily appear as “under-review” on the RDA website, which “doesn’t indicate that it is an illegal project”.
This dynamic reveals a significant tension: the developers are actively expanding and marketing new phases, while the regulatory body (RDA) is either yet to approve these specific extensions or has explicitly deemed them illegal for marketing purposes.
This means that “RDA approved” for the overall project does not automatically confer legality or approval upon every new “phase” or “extension.” Investors must understand that the legal status of this phase is not merely “under review” in a passive sense, but actively contested by the primary regulatory authority, posing a substantial legal risk until a clear, specific NOC for this phase is publicly issued by RDA.
The difficulty in accessing clear, searchable official records on the RDA website further complicates due diligence.
