LAHORE: The Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) chairman resigned from his office for allegedly not being comfortable with the government over various issues, especially the change in structure of the authority engaged in executing the multi-billion-dollar Ravi Riverfront Urban Development project in Lahore.

“While working anywhere, you see many things that do not happen as per your approach. In such a situation, you appear to be uncomfortable that forces you to better leave rather than staying, tolerating or facing such situations. So, amicably, I tendered my resignation with a three-month notice period under the law,” Ruda Chairman Rashid Aziz told Dawn.

“I had concerns on various issues that I conveyed to them (government). Finally I asked the government to allow me leave.”

The authority was created in August last year to execute the Ravi project that aims to develop a stretch of 46 kilometres along the Ravi, revive the river through channelisation, develop a mega city with a number of residential, commercial, green and business areas.

Appointment of CEO parallel to Chairman Aziz said to be main concern

Mr Aziz was appointed its first chairman.Recently, the government introduced the position of chief executive officer (CEO) parallel to the chairman.

“The government also started transferring various powers of the chairman to the CEO, making the former powerless or toothless. It hurt and forced Mr Aziz -- who formed the company, completed various important jobs -- to leave,” an official source told Dawn.

In his resignation submitted to Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, Mr Aziz said at the time of inception of the authority, he was given the herculean task to build an organisation from the ground up and now his efforts had started bearing fruit. “But it is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart, due to unavoidable personal reasons; I am tendering my resignation from the post of chairman, RUDA. This was a difficult decision, as working for RUDA has been a positive experience and one for which I am thankful,” the letter read.

Mr Aziz, who plans to leave the office in the next couple of days despite the notice period of three months, said a CEO was appointed mostly in companies or small state-owned entities that had specific or limited scope of work.

“The Capital Development Authority, National Highways Authority, Water and Power Development Authority etc are being run successfully by chairmen, as the structure of such entities has a chairman and members. Ruda too is like these authorities, as its scope of work is very big. There are no CEOs or COOs in such structured authorities,” he argued.

“Aik mayan mein do talwarain nahi reh sakti (One man cannot serve two masters).”

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2021