ISLAMABAD BY EHSAN BUKHARI
The 14th meeting of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board was held at CDA Headquarters under the chairmanship of CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by Member Administration and Estate Talat Mehmood, Member Finance Tahir Naeem, Member Environment Asfandyar Baloch, Member Planning Dr. Khalid Hafeez, Member Engineering Syed Naffasat Raza, and Punjab University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali, who joined via Zoom.
Several key agenda items were discussed and approved during the meeting:
Record-Breaking Commercial Plot Auction:
The CDA reported a successful auction in July 2025, in which 8 commercial plots and 4 shops were sold, generating Rs. 19.56 billion. These were sold at over 11% above market value, with some properties fetching 33% more than the reserve price. Despite tighter terms—such as reducing the installment period from two years to one and cutting upfront payment discounts—strong participation by serious and financially stable investors underscored confidence in CDA’s initiatives.
Audit Firm Appointment for Financial Management Improvement:
The Board approved the appointment of a reputed audit firm, KPMG, which qualified technically among bidding chartered firms. The firm will review CDA’s assets and enhance financial governance. Chairman Randhawa directed the project to be completed within six months.
Solid Waste Management Outsourcing:
The Board approved the process to re-tender solid waste management services across urban and rural Islamabad. A decision was made to invite tenders from nationally and internationally reputed firms, dividing waste collection into multiple packages. The CDA also approved a three-month extension of its waste collection agreement with the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC).
Water Charges and Cashless Payment System:
In line with digital transformation, the CDA Board decided to collect water charges through a cashless payment system to improve transparency and efficiency.
Promotion and HR Reforms:
A committee comprising Member Admin, Member Environment, and Member Finance was formed to determine seniority for the post of Director (BPS-19) in the Environment Cadre. Additionally, the promotion mechanism for sub-engineers will be reviewed by the CDA’s Service Rules Committee.
Budget Approval:
The Board approved the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2025–26 based on proposals submitted by various departments.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa reiterated CDA’s commitment to the prosperity and aesthetic development of Islamabad, ensuring top-tier housing and transport facilities to make the city a model capital.
