CDA Appoints Three Directors General

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the recruitment process for three new CDA directors general in BS-20. Retired Brig Mohammad Javed Iqbal, retired Brig Rashid Manzoor and retired Brig Azhar Khan have been appointed as directors general, according to CDA officials.

The newly appointed officers have been assigned different departments, according to notifications issued by the CDA. Retired Brig Javed Iqbal has been posted as Director General Civic Management, while retired Brig Rashid Manzoor has been appointed Director General Planning and Development. Retired Brig Azhar Khan has been posted as Director General Land and Estate Management.

The new directors general have initially been appointed on a contract basis for two years, with the possibility of an extension subject to satisfactory performance.

A process delayed by a court stay

“Yes, our process of appointing directors general has been completed, and new officers have been posted to important positions to improve the working of the CDA,” an authority official said. Asked about the recruitment process, the official said the appointments had been made through a competitive selection process.

“After the advertisement, around 100 shortlisted candidates were interviewed, and following a rigorous process, the three officers in question were selected,” he said, adding that the advertisement had stated that retired commissioned officers in BS-20 would be given preference. “The new directors general are competent and thorough professionals, and their induction will improve the working of the CDA,” he added.

The advertisement, issued in April this year, had invited applications from candidates with 16 years of education and 25 years of experience in the government sector. It stated that retired commissioned officers in BS-20 would be preferred. The CDA had planned to complete the recruitment process in May-June, but litigation delayed it.

In May, the Islamabad High Court granted a stay on the recruitment process after a petition filed by Iftikhar Haideri, a BS-19 officer of the CDA, who had approached the court after the civic agency did not promote him. He had stated that the Departmental Promotion Committee had recommended his promotion from BS-19 to BS-20, but he was not promoted despite the recommendation. He also pleaded that the BS-20 positions of directors general were meant to be filled through promotions, and that direct recruitment could not be made against them.

After the stay was vacated, the CDA completed the recruitment process and issued notifications appointing the new directors general.

What changes at the CDA

The three posts cover much of the civic body’s day-to-day work. Civic Management deals with municipal services in the capital. Planning and Development shapes how Islamabad grows. Land and Estate Management handles the land and property matters that generate many of the CDA’s disputes with residents.

In a related development, the CDA transferred BS-20 officer Abdul Razzaq from the post of Director General Civic Management a few days ago, and directed him to report to the authority’s Human Resource Department. CDA officials said a Director General Law would also be appointed soon through a competitive selection process on a contract basis.

For Islamabad residents, the appointments matter less for the names involved than for whether the civic body can now move faster on services, planning decisions and land matters that have waited through months of litigation. The new directors general start on two-year contracts, so their performance will be judged well before any extension is considered.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the three new CDA directors general?

Retired Brig Mohammad Javed Iqbal, retired Brig Rashid Manzoor and retired Brig Azhar Khan.

Which departments will they head?

Javed Iqbal will head Civic Management, Rashid Manzoor will head Planning and Development, and Azhar Khan will head Land and Estate Management.

How long are their appointments?

Two years initially, on a contract basis, with a possible extension subject to satisfactory performance.

Why was the recruitment delayed?

The Islamabad High Court granted a stay in May after a BS-19 officer challenged direct recruitment to posts he said should have been filled by promotion. The process was completed after the stay was vacated.

Will more appointments follow?

Yes. CDA officials said a Director General Law would also be appointed soon through a competitive selection process on a contract basis.