Govt likely to put CDA under Interior Ministry

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority is all set to be put under the Ministry of Interior Affairs as the federal government has decided in principle to dissolve the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), according to sources privy to the development.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA), the Capital Police, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) all are working under the Interior Ministry. On the other hand, the capital’s foremost civic agency which was previously under the Cabinet Division was given under the supervision of CADD.

Due to corruption, scams, scandals, and overall not so good performance, the civic agency that built and expanded the capital has been in ruins since the times of former CDA chairman Kamran Lashari, a decade ago. Once CDA is put under the command and control of the Interior Ministry, it will not only streamline the overall working of the civic machinery but will also put an end to incidents where the district administration has denied personnel and resources for encroachment operations.

It is pertinent to mention here that both ICTA and MCI, the two pillars of the civil administration, are already under the ministry. During the past year, both CDA and MCI have locked horns over distribution of assets and finances. Where MCI decries of being treated unfairly, CDA high-ups seem in no mood to part with the power, pelf and privileges they have been accustomed to.

In 1992, then chief commissioner Qamar Zaman Chaudhry was given additional charge of the CDA chairman. Resultantly, the cooperation and coordination between the district administration and CDA improved a great deal as both were put under the command of one person wielding authority.

CDA spokesperson Malik Salim said that the deliberation on the matter was ongoing and as of yet no final decision was reached whether to put it under the Interior Ministry or any other ministry. “The future of CDA rests on this decision. In the past, it has remained under the Housing and Works Ministry, the Cabinet Division, CADD, and the Interior Ministry. We are waiting what lies next for the civic agency,” he said.

Talking to Pakistan Today, CADD spokesperson Ateequr Rehman said that the decision taken by cabinet meeting has been final and consultations were underway to revert the departments back. Soon after the issuance of the notification, “the attached departments will be handed over to other ministries and the CADD Secretariat will be disbanded,” he said.