Commissioner takes graft-haunted RDA's helm

Engineer Khattak prioritises image-building, biometric attendance

RAWALPINDI:

After assuming additional charge as director general of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), the Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak took notice of the multi-billion-rupee mega financial scandal that occurred in the past.

According to officials, he has announced an agenda aimed at restoring the organisation's image through image-building measures, good governance, a public-friendly environment, resolution of employees' issues, mandatory biometric attendance, and a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and corrupt practices.

They said following former RDA Director General Kaniza Murtaza's relinquishment of charge on Monday, Rawalpindi Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak visited the RDA office, assumed additional charge as DG, and chaired his first meeting with officers. The meeting was attended by RDA Additional Director General Muhammad Anwar Baran, all directors, deputy directors, engineers, and other officials.

Addressing the meeting, the commissioner said that, working as a team, the foremost priority was to restore the institution's damaged credibility. Image-building and good governance would remain his top priorities. He directed that citizens' complaints be addressed promptly and all pending matters be resolved without delay. He further announced that attendance for all officers and employees would now be ensured strictly through the biometric system.

The commissioner made it clear that corruption and corrupt practices would not be tolerated under any circumstances and that a zero-tolerance policy had been enforced with immediate effect. He also directed the strict implementation of the Punjab government's instructions regarding development, beautification, and improvement, stating that open manholes within the RDA-controlled area would not be tolerated.

Safety measures at construction sites must be ensured, he added.

He instructed the Additional Director General of RDA to provide vehicles to officers and field staff and to compile progress reports of all departments.

It is pertinent to note that former RDA director general Kaniza Murtaza was removed from her post by the Punjab chief secretary on January 31. During her tenure, over Rs2 billion were allegedly transferred from the RDA official account to the accounts of various companies and individuals through call deposit receipts (CDRs). In addition, millions of rupees were allegedly embezzled from the RDA contracts' security account. Under RDA rules, signing authority in financial matters rests solely with the DG RDA and the director finance.

In this regard, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sought details of properties owned by former RDA DG Kaniza Murtaza, eight former DGs, the director administration and finance, and a total of 48 individuals from the CDA Islamabad, and the development authorities of Lahore, Gwadar, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Malir.

Currently, the RDA faces the challenge of 143 fully operational illegal housing schemes. Meanwhile, a fact-finding inquiry committee constituted by the Punjab chief secretary has been conducting proceedings into the financial scandal for the past ten months, but its report has yet to be made public.