Despite that the federal government had transferred certain directorates of the Capital Development Authority(CDA) to Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) last month, but the latter is still dysfunctional due to want of manpower. This is because about 10,000 employees of the CDA to be transferred to the IMC seem to be reluctant to join IMC as they have certain concerns. This shows that the federal government made this arrangement haphazardly and without any proper planning, CDA officials told Business Recorder.
In a joint meeting of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), Capital Development Authority (CDA), Mazdoor Union (CBA), Islamabad Mayor, Deputy Mayor over the issue of transfer of CDA employees to Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) held on Tuesday, CBA representative Chaudhry Yasin submitted reservations of employees being transferred to IMC.
Tariq Fazal chairman CADD chaired the meeting, in which, General Secretary CDA workers union Chaudhry Yasin, while representing Mazdoor Union (CBA) said that the government as well as CDA has taken an illegal decision by transferring services of around 11,000 employees and officers to the IMC without taking the consent of employees. As per Islamabad, Territory Act (ICT), 2015 section 115 (3), "a local government other than a union council may, in the prescribed manner, absorb an employee, already working in other Municipal/local government prior to the commencement of this Act, with the consent of the employee against an equivalent pay scale"
Chaudhry Yasin said employees being transferred have not been given any guarantee even for payment of salaries in future whereas the CDA employees are enjoying many benefits and allowances such as plots under low cost housing scheme, employment for CDA employee's son/daughters in case of death during service, special allowances, pension and medical etc.
Adding on, he said employees are reluctant to join IMC as there is no guarantee been given to the employees regarding allotment of plots whereas local government has no such system or arrangement. He said many of the formations have been transferred which even do not fall within the jurisdiction or ambit of the IMC. Recording assets of CDA, which have been transferred to IMC, CDA still exists under the Ordinance, 1960, which has not been repealed or amended, therefore, he said, how could the assets of CDA be transferred to IMC without any payment of cost to CDA.
Early this month, employees filed petitions in Islamabad High Court (IHC), and the court directed the authorities to sort out the matter with mutual consent by taking all the stakeholders on board before August 25, 2016. Deputy General (DG) Administration CDA, Ejaz Bajwa submitted that though the transfer orders have been passed, however, the order is not being implemented yet.
Malik Saleem, Spokesperson for CDA, while talking to Business Recorder said that the process has been started as per IHC directions. The issue regarding to pay protection and other benefits and allowances will soon be resolved by formulating criteria for these transfers. He said that the CBA union has submitted its report and shared the reservations of employees over the decision. He hoped that the matter will be resolved soon.
Out of over 15,500 employees, around 70 percent have been decided to be transferred to the IMC along with most of the buildings which are currently under the control of the CDA. With the arrival of new set-up, the CDA would be left with main functions of estate (commercial and residential), including allotment and transfer of plots and development of new sectors and execution of major projects. The functions of environment, planning, building control section, planning, sanitation, road maintenance, sports directorate, playgrounds, water supply and all the municipal services would be surrendered to the Islamabad Corporation.