ISLAMABAD: The federal ombudsman has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to issue merit lists of candidates within one month.
The directive was issued following complaints by shortlisted candidates, who despite passing test and interviews, have been waiting for the last five months for issuance of the merit list.
“Announce merit list of the candidates in pursuance of completion of recruitment process of the posts… compliance be reported within 30 days of receipt of copy of the finding,” read the order of Federal Ombudsman Naveed Kamran Cheema issued on May 21.
The orders stated that the issue pertained to undue delay caused by the agency [CDA] in completion of recruitment process of the complainants.
The order was passed following complaints by shortlisted candidates
“During the course of hearing, the complainant and his representatives submitted that they will be satisfied if the agency [CDA] is recommended to complete the process and announce merit list within 30 days. Representative of the agency agreed to the same. The recruitment process was initiated on 23-02-25, and the entire process stood completed in December 2025. However the results have been withheld by the agency for the last five months with no plausible justification. However, in view of the proposal of the complainants duly accepted by representatives of the agency [CDA] regarding announcement of merit list within 30 days, no further action is required,” read the orders, directing the CDA to issue merit list within one month.
It is relevant to note here that prolonged delay in filling 192 posts by the CDA has been causing unrest among 538 shortlisted candidates.
After passing the test conducted by the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), the candidates appeared before an interview panel last year, but afterwards merit lists were not displayed.
Earlier, the civic agency had decided to fill 192 posts in its engineering, environment and planning wings (BS-13 to 19) through a competitive process and Nust was selected for conducting the test.
As many as 538 candidates, who performed brilliantly in the test, were called by the panel and interviewed in December, but later the CDA stopped the process.
“Yes, many directorates are under-staffed, for example the directorate of building and housing control has around 15 building inspectors. In the past, we had 25 inspectors and one directorate that dealt with the city area; now, we have four directorates i.e. City, North, South and Housing Control, covering the entire city of Islamabad with only 15 inspectors,” a source said,adding that the environment wing is also under-staffed and many officials are holding dual charge.
“Even a veterinary doctor is holding a key post in the environment directorate whereas the engineering wing is also facing shortage of staff. Keeping staff shortage in view, hiring process was started last year,” the source said.
When contacted CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani said the recruitment process in question had already been scrapped on valid administrative grounds before the order of the ombudsman was issued.
“The authority is now reviewing the matter in light of the ombudsman’s findings and will engage with the relevant forums to determine an appropriate legal course of action,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026
