Editor Investigation
Islamabad, August 4, 2025: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is reportedly in a state of administrative disarray, as unchecked favoritism, disregard for service rules, and the blatant elevation of junior officers to senior posts have triggered unrest within the institution and raised serious questions about governance under the current leadership.
According to inside sources who spoke to Subh News, the present regime is indulging in an extravagant lifestyle—reportedly pocketing Rs. 40,000 per board meeting, drawing Rs. 200,000 per month in petty cash, and enjoying access to brand-new official vehicles. This culture of excess stands in stark contrast to the deepening morale crisis within CDA’s ranks.
Service regulations are being openly flouted. While only officers in Grade 19 or above are eligible for appointment as Deputy Director Generals (DDGs), and only Grade 20 officers can serve as Director Generals (DGs), the administration has handed over Grade 20-level responsibilities to multiple Grade 18 officers—leaving more qualified personnel sidelined.
Subh News has compiled a list of key irregular postings:
- Sania Pasha (Grade 18) is functioning as Deputy DG Admin, replacing Amber Gilani, another Grade 18 officer who previously held a Grade 20 post and is currently on leave.
- Shakeel Ahmed (Grade 18) is acting as DG Resource Management.
- Awais Manzoor Tarar (Grade 18) holds Grade 20 charge in the Environment Wing.
- Dr. Anam has been assigned additional charge of Deputy DG Enforcement.
- Humaira Irshad (Grade 18) is serving as Deputy DG Land.
- Obaidullah (Grade 18) is serving as Deputy DG Resources, allegedly due to his proximity to the top leadership.
- Naziah Abrar (Grade 19) was transferred from DG Inspection to DG Audit & Accounts—raising further eyebrows.
Perhaps most troubling is that senior officers are now working under their juniors. Sources say more than two dozen experienced CDA officials have been sidelined and told to report to HR, with no postings or promotions in sight.
The issue extends to the CDA Board as well. Most board members currently sit at Grade 19, while the Member Administration is the lone Grade 20 officer, effectively blocking promotions for deserving candidates. Several officers who have completed required promotional courses remain stuck, including Naeem Akbar Dar, Syed Safdar Ali Shah, Abdul Razzaq, Khizar Satti, Khalid Asif (Engineering), Zafar Iqbal Zafar (Planning), and Sardar Khan Zamri (Water Management).
In a particularly controversial move, Anwar-ul-Haq, previously serving as IT Manager, has been promoted to the Executive Cadre as Additional Director (State)—bypassing multiple officers with seniority and eligibility.
Adding further complexity to the crisis, many officers on deputation, having secured lucrative residential plots from the CDA, are now reluctant to return to their parent departments, creating an organizational bottleneck and compounding the institutional dysfunction.
The growing culture of nepotism, cronyism, and regulatory disregard paints a bleak picture of an organization that once prided itself on discipline and professionalism. With whistleblowers now stepping forward and internal discontent reaching a boiling point, calls for a high-level judicial or administrative inquiry into these appointments are gaining momentum.
