NAB expands probe in RDA scandal

Former DGs, finance directors quizzed; two suspects arrested

RAWALPINDI:

The investigation into a mega financial scandal involving the transfer of Rs2 billion from the Rawalpindi Development Authority's (RDA) official accounts to private firms and personal accounts through Call Deposit Receipts (CDR) has widened.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has completed the interrogation of all former RDA directors general and directors of administration and finance.

Current DG RDA, Kunza Murtaza, appeared before NAB as the complainant.

Although Punjab chief secretary's high-level fact-finding committee has not yet concluded its inquiry five months after it was formed, NAB has intensified its probe.

Two suspects have already been arrested.

According to sources, the scandal — surfaced in May this year — raised serious questions about negligence and professional misconduct of officers who had the authority to approve bank transactions.

NAB has questioned former DGs Saif Anwar Jappa, Tahir Zafar Abbasi, Nadeem Ahmed Abro, Amara Khan, and Chaudhry Maqbool Ahmed Dhawala, while former directors of admin and finance Asif Janjua, Malik Ghazanfar Awan, Imran Marth, and Imran Qureshi were also interrogated.

The noose is tightening around those allegedly involved in the RDA scandal.

It is noteworthy that the financial scandal at RDA, which had remained undetected for six years by senior officers with signature authority over financial matters, specifically the Director General of RDA and the Director of Finance, was uncovered in the second week of May this year. Notably, over the entire six-year period covered by the scandal, no former DG or Director of Administration and Finance was called to account.

In July, the RDA administration begun implementing key reforms to restore financial discipline. As an initial step, the implementation of an irregular promotion was halted, and a revised framework for financial authority was introduced.

Escrow accounts

On the other hand, the National Accountability Bureau has directed the Rawalpindi Development Authority and Capital Development Authority (CDA) to establish escrow accounts and introduce QR code systems for all approved housing schemes.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the DG to discuss the creation of a digital portal for the online verification of housing schemes and individual plots.

Rawalpindi NAB chairman emphasised transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the real estate sector.

He instructed CDA and RDA officials to provide accurate and regularly updated data for the new system, ensuring public access to real-time information about approved projects.

The DG further directed both authorities to establish escrow accounts to monitor financial transactions of housing schemes and integrate QR codes for public verification.

He said the initiative will help curb corruption, fraud, and unauthorised development activities.

Senior officers from NAB, CDA, RDA, and their IT departments attended the meeting, which discussed the technical framework and coordination mechanisms for timely implementation.