ISLAMABAD: Three years after its decision to verify the academic degrees held by its officers, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has yet to get the job done.

The authority’s board announced in October 2012 that the degree verification of officers would be completed within a month but so far only around 40 per cent of the CDA officials have submitted their degrees for verification.

Sources said that this was in spite of several reminders, and added that a number of officers holding dubious academic records were interfering in the verification process.

However, on Friday the authority issued what has been called a ‘last notice’, directing all officers of grade 16 or higher to submit verified educational credentials for cross verification before September 10. CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said the notice stated that those who fail to do so will have their salaries for September withheld.

Sajid confirmed that so far approximately 450 officers have submitted their records. When asked why the authority is allowing the completion of a simple case to be delayed, Sajid said, “We are serious about completing this task within a short span of time, which is why we have fixed September 10 as our deadline.”

However, the previous deadline given by the authority expired on Friday, which has now been extended to September 10. Sajid explained that in an earlier notice it was stated that officers who do not submit their records will be taken to task in accordance with the rules.

“And today, in the final notice, we explained that the salaries of those employees will be withheld, who have not submitted their records,” he added.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also directed the CDA to provide records of verified degrees of its employees. Sajid confirmed that the CDA has been asked to provide these details, and said that it was cooperating with the bureau.

The sources told Dawn that a significant number of officers and low grade employees were appointed during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government, and that a considerable number of these employees possessed fake educational credentials.

The CDA will not charge its officers for verifying degrees with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

“I can’t understand why our officers are using delaying tactics. I think there is something wrong in the majority of cases,” an officer said, and added that withholding salaries would not be enough rather they (employees) should be referred to NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and their employment privileges should be revoked.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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