ISLAMABAD: Confusion over the term ‘local’ has delayed the process of hiring 950 sanitation workers and 16 loaders for the federal capital.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had initiated the recruitment process in November last year by advertising vacancies in national dailies. It shortlisted candidates and conducted their interviews, but the process came to a halt after politicians from the garrison city objected to restricting the positions to residents of Islamabad only.

In November last year, the civic body had called for applications for the posts of sanitation workers and conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates, but it did not issue appointment letters.

According to sources, the vacancies were meant for local residents and the CDA had also mentioned in its advertisement published in national dailies on Nov 5 that only “locals” could apply for the 950 vacancies of sanitation workers and 16 of truck loaders.

CDA writes letter to Establishment Division seeking clarity on the word ‘locals’

However, they said political leaders from Rawalpindi demanded a share in the jobs for people belonging to the garrison city on the ground that residents of the twin cities were locals.

To resolve the issue, the CDA recently wrote a letter to the Establishment Division, seeking clarity on the term “locals”.

“Yes, we have written a letter to the Establishment Division, asking it to clarify whether people from Rawalpindi city also fell in the category of locals,” CDA spokesperson Syed Asif Raza said.

He said the civic authority’s management had been making efforts to complete the process of recruitment at the earliest, adding that during the recruitment process, applicants from Rawalpindi had also applied and now “we will complete the process after getting a response from the Establishment Division,” Mr Raza said, categorically denying that there was any type of political pressure.

Sources in the CDA said in the past there was no issue for residents of Rawalpindi as they had been recruited in the civic body as locals, but last year, the federal government decided that for low-grade jobs, only domicile holders of Islamabad could apply.

On the other hand, CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed in July last year had decided to end the culture of hiring private sanitation workers and directed the civic authority to recruit permanent workers for smooth functioning.

He had also directed that the practice of hiring machinery on rent should be stopped and the authority should purchase its own machinery. The CDA has yet to procure the necessary machinery.

In February 2021, the CDA cancelled a contract for maintaining cleanliness and collecting garbage after an inquiry report pointed out that the contract was awarded in violation of rules. After cancelling the contract, the CDA referred the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Under the project, which was worth Rs650 million per year, the contractor was supposed to ensure cleanliness and collection of garbage, using its own machinery and deploying a workforce of 1,200 sanitation workers.

After the contract was cancelled, the CDA awarded a new one at an exorbitant rate of Rs510 million for hiring machinery only.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2022