ISLAMABAD: Kamran Lashari and Nayyar Ali Dada, both of whom were proposed as private sector members of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) board, have refused the role.

Last year, the cabinet decided to restructure the CDA by approving the names of five private sector members and four ex-officio members of the CDA board while also re-designating the post of CDA vice chairman as managing director or chief executive.

A notification of the new members in accordance with the cabinet decision has not been issued yet. The CDA board is currently being run according to the previous practice.

The private members whose names were finalised by the cabinet last year included former CDA chairman Mr Lashari, Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Ali, retired Brig Nadeem Rehmatullah, Ali Asghar and architect Mr Dada.

Sources said Mr Lashari and Mr Dada have refused to serve as board members.

A source said Mr Lashari refused to join the CDA because he is being investigated in cases regarding the CDA during his tenure as chairman, while Mr Dada cited health issues.

Sources said the authority has submitted a compliance report to the federal government in response to the cabinet decision restructuring the authority.

They said that the report said that out of the five aforementioned members, two have refused to be on the board and the federal government should replace them. It also said that the powers of CDA members have been delegated to CDA directors general.

The report also mentioned the progress made by the authority in the last year. It said that the CDA began eight development projects including work on Burma Bridge, the stalled Park Enclave housing scheme, Park Enclave Bridge, the G-7 to G-8 underpass, the expansion of Ataturk Avenue and the development of E-12.

The CDA also paid utility companies for the Sui Gas and electricity networks in I-11 and I-14, and approved PC-Is for I-12 and I-15, the report said, and the authority’s financial situation improved after it generated more than Rs10 billion in a year.

The compliance report also contained details of upcoming development work, such as on Rawal Dam Chowk.

CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali confirmed that a compliance report has been submitted to the Ministry of Interior for onward submission to the Cabinet Division.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2020