The Islamabad Capital Development Authority (CDA) is embroiled in a massive corruption scandal amounting to Rs. 10 billion, with the land department at the center of this financial turmoil.
Responding to the scandal, significant changes have been made within the CDA’s leadership structure. Afnan Alam’s removal from the position of Member Estate has led to a shift in power dynamics. Notably, the role of Member Planning has gained prominence and increased responsibilities in the wake of these developments.
One of the notable changes involves relieving the Member Planning of the responsibility for surveying land for new CDA sectors, aimed at streamlining operations. Instead, it now holds the responsibility for assessing built properties across various sectors.
Captain (Retd) Anwar-ul-Haq, Chairman of the CDA, has officially instructed all relevant departments, from Deputy Directors to the Deputy Commissioner, to forward their data and records to the Planning and Designing Office.
Under the new directives, the Planning and Designing Wing is tasked with surveying Built-Up Properties (BuPs) across different sectors and property schemes. This responsibility was previously under the purview of the Member Estate and Land, while the Deputy Commissioner used to handle surveys and permit grants.
However, due to the absence of key officials, including Member Estate, Director, and Deputy Director of Land, the operations at the Land Department have temporarily ceased, resulting in the sealing of their offices by the Security Directorate. Once the Director and Deputy Director are appointed, their respective offices will reopen, concluding the investigation into a controversial land transfer in the E-11 sector.
These organizational changes within the CDA underscore the gravity of the corruption scandal and the authorities’ determination to address it effectively. They also highlight the significance of transparency and accountability in government institutions to prevent such incidents in the future and uphold public trust.