Irregular shuffling of top cadre stymies RDA work

Rawalpindi’s civic agency gets eighth director-general in last two years

RAWALPINDI:

The irregular appointments and transfers at the top administrative position have badly affected the overall performance of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

Tahir Zafar Abbas, who will be the eighth director-general (DG) of the RDA in the two years and six months, is expected to assume charge of the office on Monday (February 28). Nothing could be said with certainty that how long he will remain in office.

Nadeem Ahmed Abro, who was appointed as the DG of the RDA, was removed from office after serving only for six months. Chaudhry Maqbool Ahmed Dhawla succeeded him but he held the position only for two months and two days.

Dhawla was replaced by Capt (retd) Abdul Sattar Issani, who held the position only for three months before he was replaced by Nadeem Ahmed Abro, who remained in the office for four months and four days.

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In his place, Commissioner Rawalpindi Gulzar Hussain Shah was given additional charge of DG RDA. He was also removed from the post after three months. Then, Noorul Amin Mengal was given the responsibility of the DG RDA who was removed from the post after only 24 days. Now Tahir Zafar Abbas has been appointed as the new DG who is expected to assume charge on February 28.

The appointment of the DG is supposed to be for a period of three to four years to ensure continuity of policies and implementation of policies within the institution.

Owing to the irregular shuffling at the top ladder, no DG has been able to approve or oversee projects regarding planning, construction and development of the city.

Owing to this uneven appointment posting and appointment, no practical steps could be taken to stop illegal housing schemes in the RDA controlled areas.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2022.