ISLAMABAD, March 12: The Establishment Division on Wednesday barred the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from making any fresh appointments in grade 1-18, an official in the authority’s human resource department told Dawn.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the notification issued by the Establishment Division came as the first significant move after the CDA was given into its administrative control on January 21.

It has been learnt that the process of appointments to the CDA was in full swing when the directives were issued.

However, following the notification, even those who sat tests and underwent interviews will not be able to join the civic agency.

Sources said the main reason behind the ban was to facilitate the incoming government, adding that now it would be up to the new set-up to induct employees in accordance with a criteria that suited it.

The sources said height of favouritism was being seen in the prevailing process as most of the employees were allegedly inducted in violation of the criteria.

“Many people who did not deserve appointment were cleared in tests and interviews because of their relations with CDA bosses or in the interior ministry,” a CDA official said.

One of the examples of favouritism was an advertisement of the CDA’s environment wing published recently in the press for the appointment of deputy directors wildlife and environment/horticulture, assistant director, education officer, veterinary officer, horticulture officer and range officers.

The sources claimed that the main aim behind the advertisement was to absorb two directors in the environment wing, who had joined the CDA on deputation from the Punjab government, and now wanted to become permanent employees of the authority.

The most interesting fact in the advertisement was that the qualification required for deputy director environment/horticulture (grade-18), assistant directors (grade- 17) and horticulture officer was MSc, while that for deputy director wildlife (grade-18) was BSc and that too even in grade ‘C’.

The sources said the criteria of 14-year education for deputy director wildlife (zoo) matched the educational qualification of the present deputy director, Raja Javed, who has also been given the acting charge of the director.

Another fact which makes the process of appointments to the environment wing controversial is that Raja Javed is one of the members of the selection committee formed to appoint deputy director environment, while deputy director environment Malik Abid, who is on deputation, is a member of the selection committee that is to appoint deputy director wildlife (zoo).