ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has sought an explanation from its Information Technology Directorate for what it said inefficiency and casual attitude in discharge of official duties.

The explanation has been sought after the CDA received complaints about files being lost in the civic agency.

The files carrying applications are submitted by citizens, seeking building completion certificates, new water connections, etc.

The Information Technology Directorate, which was established to maintain data and prepare the record of files, has failed to deliver.

Now it has been decided that in future if a file goes missing in any department, the director and deputy director concerned would be held responsible, said a statement issued by the civic agency.

Explanation has been sought after CDA received complaints about files being lost in the civic agency

A senior officer of the CDA, requesting not to be quoted, said in some cases CDA staff were involved in vanishing files to push citizens to bribe them.

“What is the purpose of the IT department if it cannot save the file? Moreover, majority of people come with small issues but they are told that their files were lost so they should file a new case. That is why CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed has directed that the staff concerned would be held responsible for missing file.”

He said a room adjacent to the one-window department had been vacated to keep the files there.

When contacted, the CDA chairman said he had decided to revamp the one-window operation which might take two to three months.

“However, a good thing is that the one-window department has maintained all its pending applications and now they can be traced through the IT department. I have also decided that people would be informed about the file movement through SMS and automated voice messages so that they could not suffer,” he said.

According to the official statement, the CDA chairman has sought an explanation from all officers and officials of the Information Technology Directorate for inefficiency and casual attitude towards discharge of official duties.

In this connection, the member administration has issued a letter wherein officers and officials of the IT directorate have been directed to submit their explanation within three days.

According to the letter, it has been conveyed to the IT directorate that its performance was not up to the mark, especially in establishing an effective monitoring, evaluation and financial management system which was causing delays in official work.

All officers and officials have also been directed to give individual report containing their performance and task completed during their stay at the IT directorate so that their performance could be evaluated.

Furthermore, they have been asked to submit reports on their contribution and initiatives towards automation of procedure.

Officers and official have further been directed to submit their replies to the member administration within three days failing which disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the officers/officials under the prevailing rules.

In another letter, the member administration has directed the officers to keep the record in safe custody or record room and install CCTV cameras to monitor movement of the officials there.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2019