Incumbent State Minister Usman Ibrahim, MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry
ISLAMABAD:
Marred by mismanagement and overlaps of powers, the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) is going through yet another major reshuffle in its bureaucratic setup.
After failing to abolish it, as recommended by the federal cabinet, the government in a bid to put the house in order, has decided to change the state minister who is in-charge of the division, and reshuffle top baboos.
After the passage of the 18th Amendment, the federal capital’s affairs are being run under three parallel administrations —CADD, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the interior ministry. And the overlap of power at some places has consistently been a bone of contention between these departments.
Similarly, continuous transfers and appointments of bureaucrats at the division since its inception in 2011 have affected the education sector in the capital.
New minister
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a ruling party member of the National Assembly from the capital, is likely to replace Usman Ibrahim.
CADD was first established as a ministry by the former PPP government with a full minister in-charge, but was later turned into a division by the PML-N.
Chaudhry has been involved in CADD affairs related to the recent fee hike saga, and had been spotted flanking the education minister at press briefings.
He also told the media that work was underway to revamp the education sector in the capital.
“The MNA has been informed about his new job and he will formally take charge on Friday (today) or next week,” said an official at the CADD who was not allowed to speak to media.
Apparently, the government is dissatisfied with Ibrahim’s performance. Some changes have already been made in the education sector of the capital since the prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz informally began taking on the issue.
Earlier this month, she paid surprise visits to schools in F-6 and F-7, and expressed dissatisfaction over academic and administrative affairs.
Since then, CADD Joint Secretary Rukhsana Rehman and Joint Secretary Muhammad Junaid have been transferred and directed to report to the Establishment Division.
Junaid was appointed interim chief of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) in September.
Looming confusion
Another new Joint Secretary, Ayesha Farooq, has been appointed focal person for the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE). She will directly report to Maryam Nawaz on upgradation and developments in the education sector, including setting up 21 model schools in the suburbs of the capital.
Similarly, the Establishment Division on Wednesday transferred former FDE director-general Shehnaz Riaz and appointed Moinudin Wani, a customs officer, as the new chief of the directorate.
Another senior official at the division commented that the arrival of the new minister would make things interesting, since Maryam has already taken control of several education-related issues.
“Would the minister take directions from her or work independently,” he asked.
Secretarial shuffle
CADD has had around 11 secretaries since it was set up four years back. Half of them were transferred to the division three to four months prior to retirement.
The government is also mulling transferring incumbent CADD Secretary Khalid Hanif. The minister was quoted as saying at an event that if he was to be blamed for “poor performance”, then the secretary should also be removed.
When contacted, Hanif commented that he heard of possible transfers, but had not received anything in writing. He added that he was trying to undo Junaid’s transfer.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ