A warm reception at the end of a turbulent career!

Islamabad

It was an unusually warm farewell reception that was arranged on Saturday by the officers and officials of the Environment Wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to say 'goodbye' to Syed Mustafain Kazmi, the grade-20 officer, who finally 'hanged the gloves' at the end of a long innings spanning over 32 years.

Kazmi, one of the most seasoned officers of the capital’s civic agency, retired from service after attaining the age of superannuation on January 2, 2016. He retired from the office of the CDA Member (Environment).

He joined the CDA in May 1984 and looking back through all those 32 years one can see how he had managed through the turbulent waters and was made to pay a pretty heavy price for his honesty.

He never chewed his words and never budged from his decisions, spoke his mind loud and clear and because of these attributes he earned the distinction of being the only officer of the CDA who was ushered out and sent on deputation to serve in federal government so that others may be able to work 'peacefully' in the CDA.

So, on January 2, 2016, while many would have been feeling sad saying 'goodbye' to him somewhere some celebrations must also be going on at the same time for seeing his back.

He has done his Masters in Mass Communication and also holds a Bachelor of Law (L.L.B) degree. In addition to his special training in International Public Administration from Graduate School, Washington D.C, USA, he also specialised in the field of Solid Waste Management (SWM) from Japan. The federal government has promoted and posted Kazmi as Member Administration in February 2010, Member (Planning & Design) on March 5, 2013 and lastly he was posted as Member Environment in April 2014.

Before being elevated to be part of the CDA Board as Member, Kazmi served as directors of Municipal Administration, Enforcement, Sanitation, Public Relations, Sports & Culture, Deputy Director General (Municipal Administration) and DG (Civic Management).

During his service with CDA, he played a pivotal role towards the development of infrastructure and execution of other vital projects of public importance in Islamabad. He was mostly assigned the special tasks concerning civic functions of the city and other projects of public interest. His persistent efforts have always been distinct in gearing up the uplift of Capital and its overall transformation into a Modern metropolis.

His major achievements include development and conservation of Saidpur Village, first food street ‘Melody Food Park', G-6, more than 70 public parks, sport facilities which include playgrounds, multipurpose sports centres-courts, weekly bazaars (Juma, Itwar & Mangal) in sectors G-6 and H-9.

Kazmi launched a number of demolition operations and regained physical possession of crucially important pieces of land owned by the CDA, which were under adverse possession of land mafia, seriously hampering development work of the CDA in different sectors of the city.

He also played a pivotal role in installation of 215 feet high flag of Pakistan at Islamabad Expressway which is the highest flag of Southeast Asia. Besides this, he got the most famous Japanese Park remodelled and upgraded. 

He also initiated work on the project of development of first scientific sanitary landfill and got cleared the environmental impact assessment. He organised several social, cultural and sporting activities under ‘Margalla Festival.’ He also initiated many development projects for the welfare of persons with disabilities and the working class-labourers while discharging his duties in the federal government.

The upgradation of Sanitation Cell into a full-fledged Directorate of Sanitation, revolutionising the then Fire Department into full-fledged Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management (E&DM), transformation of small sports cell into Directorate of Sports and Culture as action oriented body was ably done by Kazmi.

His proactive role in making the city environment-friendly received appreciation from the management as well as from public at large. He enjoys a reputation of an honest, upright, courageous and hardworking officer. He was the first senior officer of CDA who discharged his official duties in federal government as Director-General Special Education and Social Welfare; Director-General Workers Welfare; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Capital Administration & Development (CA&D); Managing Director, National Trust for Disabled and joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Manpower. He has attended number of seminars, symposium, workshops, study tours and conferences at home and abroad in different fields.