ISLAMABAD: The future of the Capital Administration and Development Division will be decided today (Thursday), when the federal cabinet gathers to discuss its possible abolition.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair the aforementioned meeting, where the decision on CADD’s fate tops the agenda.

Officials Dawn spoke to from CADD and the Ministry of Education said the capital’s education sector, Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and health departments will be placed under the administrative control of the federal education and national health services (NHS) ministries, respectively.

They said the government was convinced during previous meetings that health and education-related departments should be placed under the administrative control of the concerned ministries. However, officials said, it is not yet clear whether the government will abolish CADD altogether or let it remain intact to supervise the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

There is talk amongst officials in the corridors of CADD who say that there is a chance cabinet will abolish CADD and place the health and education departments under the relevant ministries, while the CDA will be placed under the administrative control of either cabinet or the Ministry of Interior.

The education ministry currently has no role in the 423 educational institutions of the capital, while the health ministry has nothing to do with Islamabad’s hospitals, as these are currently regulated by CADD.

Some officials said previous meetings also discussed whether CADD should remain intact to supervise the CDA and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad – which is currently under the administrative control of the interior ministry. In either case, however, the education and health departments sectors will be placed under ministries.

The federal cabinet will also discuss the transfer of health-related assets from the Islamabad Capital Territory administration to the NHS ministry.

Currently, the ICT administration looks after the affairs of more than 17 basic health units (BHU) operating in various parts of the capital, but sources said its performance is not up to the mark and the federal government wishes to place BHUs under the administrative control of the health ministry for better delivery.

CADD was established in 2011 following the devolution of ministries to the provinces. Its continued existence became uncertain after the July 25 elections when the PTI government proposed its abolition and did not appoint a federal or state minister to look after its affairs.

CADD supervises the education, health and civic matters of the capital. All schools, colleges, public-sector hospitals and the CDA are under its administrative control.

Thursday’s meeting will also discuss a special audit of all urban mass-transit systems in the country and the ratification of decisions made by the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee, as well as the constitution of a task force to streamline the regulatory regime at the implementation level, appointment of the chairman of the Board of Investment, the assets recovery unit, amendment in Rule 12(1)(a) of the Pakistan Navy Rules 1961 and income tax amendment ordinance.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2018