Diplomatic missions excluded from anti-encroachment drive

Municipal authorities told to follow instructions of foreign office

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration has barred the enforcement directorate responsible for the anti-encroachment drive from taking any coercive enforcement action against the diplomatic missions.

A letter in this regard has been issued by the Municipal Administration Director to all concerned asking them to give due protocol to the foreign missions.

The letter to Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), Directorate Municipal Administration (DMA) and to all diplomats in Islamabad, dated July 10, 2019 reads, “All field staff is hereby directed neither to serve any notice (written or verbal) nor to take any coercive enforcement action against diplomatic missions in Islamabad.”

It further says if any violation in the premises of diplomatic missions, state guests is found then it should be reported to the concerned authorities, who will then take up the matter at the relevant forum.

The letter further specifies that diplomats and state guests of Pakistan should be dealt with as per the diplomatic protocol and instructions of the foreign office.

It may be mentioned here that the CDA staff had removed security booths outside of various embassies. The foreign missions had expressed grave concerns as the action had compromised their security.

CDA to hire testing agency

Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to hire testing agency for recruitment against the vacant posts in the authority.

CDA Board of Directors has approved in principal the hiring of testing agency and forwarded the request to Ministry of Interior for further process.

Decision of hiring testing agency was taken to make recruitment process efficient and less time consuming. Furthermore, by utilising the services of the testing agency, merit and transparency in recruitment process would be ensured.

CDA Planning Wing, Engineering Wing, Finance Wing and Capital Hospital of the authority are facing shortage of staff as no recruitment has been made from last many years, which is ultimately affecting service delivery. As the present management of the authority is streamlining all the spheres and different pending issues are being taken up. In order to cope with shortage of staff, it was decided that services of a testing agency would be hired for the future recruitment in the authority. The decision will help attract quality candidates through expertise of the testing agency and avoid tonnes of applications.

Meanwhile, CDA conducted anti-encroachment operation on Lehatrar Road. During the drive CDA officials demolished 35 illegal shades,  seven cabins, six shops’ boards and other encroachments on two-kilometer stretch along roadside.

The officials of CDA Enforcement Directorate along with district administration and police participated in the operation.

‘Pir’ evicted

The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) conducted anti-encroachment operation and recovered a land which was illegally occupied by a Pir and his followers for last 20 years.

City Assistant Commissioner Naeem Afzal supervised the operation which turned violent when desciples of the spiritual leader put up stiff resistance. She had to call in police to control the unruly crowd, which was finally dispersed.

After eviction of the Pir and his mureeds, the district administration handed over the possession of the land to Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2019.