After the necessary homework, the amended rules will be submitted to the Cabinet Division for endorsement and final approval from the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” says CDA chairperson. PHOTO: FILE.
Although the Cabinet Division recently directed city managers to amend the authority’s service rules — which are vague over the issue of the qualification required of CDA board members — so far, there has been no progress on the issue on the CDA’s behalf.
Standing committees in both the Senate and the National Assembly had also asked for the incorporation of clauses to CDA service rules in a bid to make them clearer on the required qualification.
Under the CDA Ordinance of 1960, responsibility for the administration of the authority and its functions were given to a board consisting of at least three members — a chairman, a financial advisor and one other member from the agency.
Today, apart from the chairman, the CDA board is composed of members for planning, finance, administration, estate, environment and engineering. Each member is in charge of various directorates.
The current rules provide that the federal government shall appoint the CDA Chairperson, Financial Advisor (Member Finance) and another member from among the directorate heads.
Meet the members
Currently, Planning and Design Member Mustafain Kazmi and Engineering Member Sanaullah Aman are performing their duties on current-charge basis, while the rest of the members, were appointed by the federal government on October 2, 2012.
Commerce Group officer Azher Ali Chaudhry, who is the CDA board member for finance, holds a postgraduate diploma in computer applications — a qualification that does not meet the requirements of the technical post he has been holding since October 2. Chaudhry was previously a joint secretary in the ministries of national heritage and commerce. According to a retired bureaucrat from the Income Tax Group, finance-related posts are generally given to officers from taxation or audit as they have the relevant experience.
Mustafain Kazmi, who is serving as the Planning and Design member on current charge basis, is a law graduate with a masters degree in mass communication. Although he was previously the Administration member, the post of Planning and Design member is arguably the most technical position in the CDA and would presumptively require an officer who possesses the relevant educational qualification.
Shaista Sohail is Member Estate of the Authority. She is a DMG officer of BPS-20 and holds a masters degree in economics. As she currently looks after CDA’s land, her past experience as the CDA Land director serves her well.
Dr Kazim Niaz was appointed the CDA board member for environment on October 2. He is a medical doctor and also holds a masters degree in political science. In 20 years of government service, mostly with the Economic Affairs Division, Niaz has had no notable experience handling environment related issues.
Munir Ahmed holds a masters degree in political science and is serving as the CDA Administration member. However, although his degree is not relevant, he has served in the civil service’s Office Management Group (OMG) for over 31 years. OMG members are often appointed to administrative posts.
The only officer with academic credentials to match his post is Sanaullah Aman, a BPS-20 officer working as the Engineering member on current charge basis since September 27, 2012. He holds a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Engineering College Peshawar, along with a masters in business administration.
CDA Chairperson Tahir Shahbaz told The Express Tribune that in light of the directions of parliamentary forums, the CDA had started work on the issue. “The rules require amendment. After the necessary homework, the amended rules will be submitted to the Cabinet Division for endorsement and final approval from the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Shahbaz said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2013.
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