ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is currently managing its operations with several officers holding multiple additional charges, including one officer assigned as many as seven roles, raising questions over its administrative arrangements.
Sources in the CDA told Dawn that many officers were holding multiple charges whereas over 200 officers and officials, some of them with good repute, had been sidelined. These officials and officers, according to the sources, have been getting salaries without doing any work.
According to the official documents, Deputy Director (BS-18) Rana Mohammad Rizwan is holding record seven charges as he has been officiating as director Roads North, Roads South, Traffic Engineering, Land Survey, Metro Bus Operations, Deputy Director Metro Bus Operations and Deputy Director Metro Bus Infrastructure.
Similarly, Director Mashooq Ali Sheikh is holding the charges of the directors of works, maintenance and sanitation besides the charge of Director General Services. Another director, Faisal Raza Gadi, is holding the charge of director sector development and DG works.
One officer holds record seven charges, another looks after five posts
Meanwhile, Deputy Director Johar Ali is holding the charge of Deputy Director Road 5, Director Special Project and Director Water Supply. Similarly, Deputy Director Lutufullah Wattoo has also been given multiple charges - Deputy Director Road 1, Deputy Director Road 3, Deputy Director Machinery Pool Organisation and Project Director of Margalla Road Extension.
Moreover, Director Khalid Asif is holding the dual charge of DG Procurement and Contracts and the DG Building Control.
Besides, two contractual engineers, Qazi Mohammad Umar and Faisal Zaman, have also been looking after several projects simultaneously.
Mr Umar is project director (PD) of the metro bus, Jinnah Medical Complex, Sewerage Treatment Plant and the proposed convention and expo centre.
Faisal Zaman is holding the charge of PD 104 Family Suit Project, Garndhara Project, Cricket Stadium Project, Capital Street, Nilore Heights, F-9 Park and Gardena Hub.
Several other officers are holding dual charges such as the magistrate CDA Sardar Asif holding the charge of deputy commissioner CDA. While a grade 18 officer, Dr Anam Fatima, who is Chief Officer of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and Director DMA, is also holding the acting charge of the deputy director general enforcement.
An assistant director of the enforcement wing is also holding dual charges.
Meanwhile, deputy director general environment Dr Sania Pasha and director environment Akhtar Rasool are also holding dual charges.
“These officers are enjoying dual or multiple charges on like and dislike basis. Some of them are very workaholic and hard working and the good work of one of the officers was highlighted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. But some are those who have alleged good connections,” said an official, adding that for good governance right officers should be placed at the right place. “There is no justification for dual charges and these steps reflects poor governance system,” he said.
Sources said Director General Law Naeem Dar was also holding the acting charge of secretary CDA board while Director General HR holding the charge of deputy director general resource. Director General Vigilance Khizar Satti is also holding the charge of director enforcement and security.
Apart from these, Director Urban Planning Ijaz Sheikh is holding the acting charge of the DG planning while Director Building Control City Nisar Shah is holding the charge of the director city as well.
A few months ago, the CDA removed over 200 officials and officers from their posts stating that officers with bad repute were being removed to improve efficiency. Surprisingly, in said orders, some officers of good repute were also sidelined as no inquiry was pending against them. They are still closed to Human Resource Department.
“It seems while compiling lists for removing officials of bad repute, someone set personal score with officers of good repute, who too were removed besides those having bad repute,” said an official.
He said charges should be framed against all those officials/officers who were removed by CDA from their position. If anything wrong was established against them, action should be taken, while those who have had good reputation should be posted.
“Paying salaries to these officials/officers after directing them to report to HRD make no sense.
Meanwhile, an official said Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) BS-20 officer retired Lt Sohail Ashraf, the newly-appointed Chief Commissioner Islamabad, has also been named as the CDA chairman.
He “should look into these issues to improve governance in CDA,” said the official.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2026