RDA sans finance head post Rs2b scam

Finance directorate continues to operate under officers holding additional charges

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Rawalpindi Development Authority. PHOTO: ONLINE

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RAWALPINDI:

Despite a financial scandal involving transfer of more than Rs2 billion from an official account, the Finance Directorate of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has yet to see permanent appointments to key posts under the finance cadre. The directorate continues to be run through additional charges and general cadre officers.

According to details, in May 2025, over Rs2 billion was allegedly transferred from an official account through CDR (Call Deposit Receipt) resets to fictitious companies and individuals. Subsequently, millions of rupees were also reportedly transferred from contractors' security deposits. However, even after the scandal surfaced, no permanent finance cadre officers have been appointed in the RDA Finance Directorate. Nearly nine and a half months later, affairs are still being managed through officers holding additional charges or belonging to the general cadre, raising concerns about the risk of further irregularities.

At the time the financial scandal came to light, the then permanent Director Admin and Finance, Asif Janjua, retired after completing his tenure within a month. The Deputy Director Finance, (late) Junaid Taj Bhatti, had earlier been transferred as DG PHA Sialkot. On his vacant seat, deputation officer Ahmed Sohaib Qazi was appointed and given additional charge of Director Admin and Finance. Later, Masood Arshad was assigned the charge of Deputy Director Finance and subsequently given the additional charge of Director Finance following Ahmed Sohaib's retirement.

Soon afterward, the charge of Director Finance was withdrawn from Masood Arshad and handed to Iftikhar Janjua on an additional basis, while Masood Arshad was moved to State Management. The post of Deputy Director Finance was then given to Assistant Director (General Cadre) Shoaib Khan. Later, the charge of Director Finance was taken back from Iftikhar Janjua and assigned to IT Officer Daud Malik. Most recently, the additional charge of Director Finance has once again been handed to Director State Management, Abgine Khan.