ECP okays appointment of two new CDA board members

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has approved the appointments of two new board members in Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) on deputation, in response to a letter sent by the Establishment Division.

According to the Establishment Division, the approval to appoint Pakistan Administrative Service’s grade 19 officer Sadia Haider as member planning and design, and Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service’s grade 19 officer Shahzad Khalil as member environment to the CDA board has been taken from the ECP. This approval will be sent to the federal government for ratification, following which formal notifications for the appointments will be issued.

Meanwhile, some CDA officers have expressed their reservations over appointing Haider as member planning and design, arguing that it is a grade 20 post and requires of the holder to have technical expertise. They have said that only a civil engineer or a town planner or an architect, registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council and Pakistan Council for Architect and Town Planners, respectively, could be appointed to this post.

The dissenting officers have apprehended that if a non-technical member is appointed, it could be challenged in court because the description for this job involves making policy-decisions on matters related to structure design and building control, for which a non-technical officer is not qualified.

On the other hand, the position of member engineering in the CDA has been vacant since September 1, adversely affecting the work in the relevant wing. Previously, an officer of the Punjab government, Hafiz Khalid Hafeez, was appointed to this post with the approval of the ECP.

However, neither the notification for this appointment was issued nor an alternative engineer was posted.