ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Friday removed 85 officials from their current positions with plans for a second phase of removals aimed at improving the performance of the civic agency.

According to a notification issued by the CDA, 55 officers from grade 16 to 19 have been removed and directed to report to the Human Resource Directorate. The remaining 30 employees were in grade 5 to 15.

A senior officer of the CDA said the action was taken on the basis of ‘repute’ reports of the officials.

“We are convinced that these officials were rightly removed from their positions as we had received their reports. Still if anyone believes they were wrongly removed, they can present their case before the authority for a review,” the officer said, adding the step was taken to ensure good governance.

Action taken on basis of ‘repute’ reports of employees; second phase of removals soon, says officer

When asked if all the officials were removed on corruption charges, the officer said most of them were already facing inquiries and corruption allegations while some were removed due to their inefficiency and lethargic approach towards their work.

About officials of the estate, sanitation and engineering wings and other directorates who have been serving there for years, the officer said: “In the second phase, they too will be removed as another list is being prepared. We will see why some officials always choose to get their posting in the Estate Wing, building control and land, we are working on this aspect too and soon more officials will be removed.”

The Estate Wing deals with residential and commercial properties while the Building Control approves building plans of all types. The Land Directorate looks after compensation cases of people whose land was acquired by the CDA and who, in return, are entitled to receive plots from the CDA. In the past, major corruption cases took place in these three wings.

“Let me appreciate CDA management for this big step. I hope this will bring positive changes. Now I am hopeful the management should also issue orders of the second phase soon to remove officials who always managed choice posting in estate wing, building control and land,” said the officer.

“As per my knowledge, majority of those who were removed today were facing inquiries. But yes, still many officials despite ongoing inquiries against them are still performing their duties. They too should be removed,” he added.

Meanwhile, some officials suggested that the management should also keep an eye on the performance of deputation officials as major corruption cases in the past had been linked to the departments of the CDA that were headed by deputation officers.

“We have decided to take action across the board. The management treats everyone equally and recently a deputation official was repatriated for his failure in completing the assigned tasks,” the officer said.

It is relevant to note here that as per practice of the CDA, any official (except on professional seats such as engineers and town planners) can’t hold posting in one directorate for more than three years.

However, many officials in the past got themselves transferred from their favourite wing just before completion of the three years only to be reposted in the same directorate within a few weeks to start another three-year term.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2025