Islamabad mayor likely to get much-awaited powers next month

Islamabad

The federal government is set to issue a notification for handing over functions of 23 directorates of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) during first week of next month.

The official sources told ‘The News’ that Islamabad Mayor Shaikh Ansar Aziz would get much-awaited powers of civic and municipal affairs and other functions of Islamabad metropolitan shortly. “Most likely the notification to hand over 23 directorates of the CDA will be issued in the first week of June,” sources said.

It has been learnt that meetings are going on between officials of the Ministry of Interior and CDA headquarters to give final shape to issues relating to the new development.

As a first step, the CDA management on Friday issued an order for attachment of DG Designs Asad Kiani as Chief Metropolitan Officer (CMO) in IMC. He will continue to see his duties in the CDA till a formal notification is issued by the Ministry of Interior regarding his appointment in IMC.

Asad Kiani is younger brother of ex-Rawalpindi district nazim during Musharraf tenure, Raja Tariq Mehboob Kiani.

Sources said that 10 to 12 directorates would be divided between IMC and CDA. “It will be ensured that rights of around 10,000 CDA employees, to be sent to IMC, relating to pay and pension protection and other benefits will be protected,” sources said.

The CDA board and officers association of the authority have also been deliberating upon issues concerning service rights of employees.

Meanwhile, the CDA Model School and CDA Capital Hospital would also be placed under the control of the IMC as majority of employees were being sent to IMC. The two institutions would be renamed as IMC Model School and IMC Hospital.

However, the CDA employees would continue to get health and education facilities as they were enjoying earlier.