ISLAMABAD: Though it does not yet have even a single department of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) under its administrative control, the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) will hold its first session on Monday, seven months after the local government elections.

Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz said he did not want to delay IMC’s first meeting. He said CDA should have handed the departments to IMC when the notification for doing so was issued on June 22.

“People are asking us to address their problems, but we had [no power],” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Chief Metropolitan Officer Asad Mehboob Kiani said that during the first session, the mayor will deliver a welcome speech and will talk about budget proposals. Members will then be registered and a five-member committee will be established for drafting rules of business for the corporation.

Mayor will talk about budget proposal, register members and constitute committee to draft rules of business for the corporation

Talking about the delay in CDA handing over complete control of 23 departments and sharing authority for 20 others, Mr Kiani said that so far, no department had been devolved to IMC.

“After the notification was issued, CDA’s board held a meeting for giving the departments to us, but the minutes of the meeting have not been signed yet,” he explained. He added that the departments and staff will be likely be transferred on Monday.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has handed over three of its departments to the corporation which include public health, civil defence and rural development.

According to sources, the mayor had to face a lot of challenges when getting a notification for the transfer of assets and human resources to IMC from the CDA.

They said some officials in the CDA did not want to see the division of CDA.

On the other hand, elected representatives say they have been avoiding facing voters since they were elected seven months ago.

“The bureaucracy does not want to share powers and they want to keep their monopoly,” said Naeem Gujjar, chairman UC-30.

According to the notification issued on Wednesday, the CDA departments which were given to IMC and have not yet been devolved include CDA Directorate of Health Services, Rescue 1122, the District Municipal Authority, sports and culture, Capital Development Authority Hospital and school, security, IT management, bulk water management, Water Supply Directorate, sewerage treatment plant, machinery pool organisation, environment (east and west), sanitation, electrical and mechanical departments.

The 20 departments which will be partially devolved include Human Resource Department (I and II), Law and Labour Relations, maintenance, Parks Directorates and enforcement.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2016