For transparency: NADRA gives plot balloting software to civic agency

Programme will also help civic agency computerise records

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Tuesday handed over a plot balloting computer programme to the capital’s civic agency.

“It will help curtail prevailing corrupt practices at the agency, which has in the past been accused of allotting lucrative plots to people in exchange for bribes by rigging the balloting using CDA’s home-grown application,” CDA Estate Member Amer Ali Ahmad said.

The new software will replace the one Ahmad referred to, which was developed by the CDA Information Technology department.

NADRA officials on Tuesday demonstrated the software at CDA headquarters. During the demonstration, the ‘under-the-hood’ capabilities of the software were examined.

The programme will likely be used next month to conduct open balloting for over 300 plots at the recently announced first phase of Park Enclave-II, a high-end housing colony on Park Road.

As many as 315 residential plots of 500 square yards each will be sold under the Park Enclave Phase-II, Block-A project, while another 12 commercial plots of 1,000 square yards each will also be sold.

CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal said that during the balloting of plots in the past, people from different walks of life expressed concerns over transparency, according to a statement issued by the civic authority. Afzal said NADRA was approached to help settle this issue once and for all.

Serious allegations of corruption hit the CDA in 2011 after balloting was held to sell over 600 plots in Park Enclave-I using its own software.

Several MPs and other influential’s including journalists got plots at prime locations, while common citizens were given lesser plots, including those along drains.

After charges of corruption and fixed balloting surfaced, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) kicked off investigations into the issue. CDA officials later admitted that they had rigged the balloting on directions from their bosses.

Land record computerisation

The CDA chairman further said that NADRA would collaborate with the CDA to computerise CDA land records.

“Land and estate, revenue, and property records will be computerised to facilitate the people and to bring an end to corruption related to manual recordkeeping,” the chairman said.

He said the CDA One Window Operation directorate would also be computerised to end interference by staffers in property transfers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2015.