Seven key posts lying vacant in RDA

Authority chief says they are in process of filling these posts

RAWALPINDI:

As many as seven senior posts in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) are lying vacant, impacting the performance of the department. However, the authority is trying to fill these posts to improve its performance.

The Express Tribune has learnt that some seven seats, including the post of the chief engineer, two directors, as many deputy directors and assistant directors, are lying vacant in the civic body.

The seat of the chief engineer has been lying vacant for the past five years.

Further, the seats of Land Use Building Control director and Planning assistant director recently opened up after their incumbents, Jamshed Aftab and Samilullah Niazi respectively, were recently sacked on corruption charges.

Planning Director Niazi was transferred to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). Similarly, the Building Control Assistant Director Atif Chaudhry has been transferred as well.

With these key posts now lying vacant, the authority has been severely handicapped in fulfilling its functions. The shortage of manpower is such that one officer in the authority is handling two departments as an additional charge.

The vacant positions have also put the authority in a tough spot, especially after the provincial government decided that the RDA will be responsible for the construction of the Ring Road project in the city instead of LDA.

Officials said that under such circumstances, the civic agency’s administration needed to become fully active.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, RDA Chairperson Tariq Murtaza confirmed the shortage of human resources on key posts in the authority, adding that they are currently in the process of transferring officials and posting them on these empty seats.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2020.