ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with the prime minister’s adviser on institutional reforms and austerity, Capital Development Authority (CDA) board members agreed to a major reshuffle in the authority that would post out all the officials that have held the same post for the last three years.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Isharat Hussain visited CDA headquarters onThursdayand met with CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed and board members.

Sources said Dr Hussain told board members that the reshuffle was imperative for good governance, and also directed the authority to improve its website and move towards automation for better service delivery.

Adviser to PM directs the civic body to improve quality of services provided to residents

Sources said officials in various wings - the engineering and estate wings in particular - have been enjoying choice postings for several years. They said that even if these officials are posted out, they return to their post of choice after a few months. In addition, various officials enjoy ex-cadre postings, particularly engineers, they said.

CDA officials said officials should be rotated through various directorates in order to combat corruption.

Sources in the authority also said the “fraudulent” practice of transfers and re-postings should be looked into, as many officials have themselves transferred for a few months only to return to their previous offices.

“The service record of officers from the last five years or so needs to be checked to determine to the real time of their posting,” an official said.

Directing the authority to be restructured and for its financial structure to be strengthened, Dr Hussain said financial discipline in the CDA should be ensured. He told all formations to improve the quality of services provided to Islamabad residents.

According to a statement issued by the CDA, Dr Hussain discussed restructuring and reforms aimed at revamping the CDA and improving its performance.

He was briefed by the chairman on the CDA’s administrative structure and departments, as well as the steps the CDA has taken to improve the performance of various formations and provide quality services to residents.

Members of the CDA board also briefed Dr Hussain on the steps taken to improve service delivery in their respective formations.

When contacted, a senior CDA officer confirmed that Dr Hussain directed the CDA carry out a reshuffle for better service delivery. He said CDA board members told him lists are being finalised to post out all officials who have been enjoying their posts for years.

In August last year, former CDA chairman Ishrat Ali introduced a policy of rotation and transferred several officers who had worked on the same post for three years. He had transferred several directors, including those for housing, urban planning and administration. Interestingly, some of the directors, he had posted out, rejoined their previous posts.

The authority’s officials told Dawn that before the former chairman could complete his posting process, he himself was transferred on Sept 1, 2018. However, a CDA board member said lists were being finalised and the reshuffle would be carried out on merit. “We will also look into the issue of ex-cadre posting,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2019