Latest news with #RawalpindiDevelopmentAuthority
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Panel postpones RDA scam hearing
The meeting of the special committee formed by the Punjab Chief Secretary to investigate the Rs1.94 billion corruption scandal in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) failed to be held in Lahore on Thursday. The Director-General of RDA, along with a Deputy Director and an Assistant Director, who had travelled to Lahore for the meeting, were informed about rescheduling of the meeting on June 11. Meanwhile, NAB has intensified its probe into the financial scandal and conducted a raid at the residence of the late Deputy Director. The special committee, comprising DMG officers, had summoned RDA's Director-General Kinza Murtaza, Deputy Director Iftikhar Janjua, and Assistant Director Waqar Asghar Raja to Lahore for a review of records. However, upon their arrival, they were informed that one committee member was unavailable, leading to the postponement of the hearing until June 11. Surprisingly, despite the ongoing investigation, only one retired officer from the approximately dozen former Directors General and Directors of Administration and Finance of RDA, who served between 2016 and 2024/25, has been summoned. Some of these officers have retired, while others hold key positions in Punjab.
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA scam sparks NAB probe
An alleged embezzlement scandal involving Rs1.94 billion in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has raised serious questions about negligence and misconduct by top officials over the past nine years. According to sources, the scandal reportedly implicates former and current director generals and directors of administration and finance, all of whom had signatory authority over the RDA's financial affairs. The matter has now been transferred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) via the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment for further investigation. According to sources, over the last nine years, payments amounting to nearly Rs1.94 billion were made from RDA's bank accounts to fictitious companies posing as registered vendors. These transactions were conducted through Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs), with around 21 transactions linked to eight companies and thirteen individuals. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for financial dealings within the RDA were reportedly ignored, and the signatory authority granted to the director general and director admin & finance was misused. Meanwhile, the responsible authorities failed to monitor bank account activity or audit financial records held both in RDA offices and in the respective banks. Following the revelation, NAB has started collecting relevant documents from the RDA and corresponding banks. Letters have also been sent to the private banks involved, requesting transactional records. This has created a troubling situation for all individuals who held the roles of director general or director admin & finance during the past nine yearswhether in service or retired. Questions are being raised as to why they failed to oversee the issuance of CDRs, track their reference letters, and review how funds were funnelled to various companies and individuals. According to sources, investigations aim to identify the public officials, fake companies, and individuals involved in the scam, with the ultimate goal of recovering the embezzled public funds. Legal action is expected against those who received payments either as company representatives or in a personal capacity. On the other hand, the RDA has prepared a proposed Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the fiscal year 2025-26. The plan, which awaits final approval from the Punjab government, includes major infrastructure initiatives under the "Urban Development Package" and "City Development Package." The proposed projects consist of three underpasses, one flyover, a multi-storey parking plaza, and several road infrastructure schemes. Each development initiative has been recommended by the respective members of the national and provincial assemblies.
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pindi prepares uplift plan for FY26
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has prepared a proposed Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the fiscal year 202526. The plan, which awaits final approval from the Punjab government, includes major infrastructure initiatives under the "Urban Development Package" and "City Development Package." The proposed projects consist of three underpasses, one flyover, a multi-storey parking plaza, and several road infrastructure schemes. Each development initiative has been recommended by the respective members of the national and provincial assemblies. The proposed ADP includes feasibility studies for an underpass at Chandni Chowk, another at Rawal Road on Murree Road, and a third at Marrir Chowk. A flyover is also proposed from Siddiqui Chowk to IJP Road. Under the Urban Development Package, the dualisation of Adiala Road from Khasala Khurd to Gorakhpur is estimated to cost Rs2.539 billion. Expansion and improvement of the 8.5-kilometre stretch from Girja Road (Thalian Interchange) to Akbar Chowk will cost Rs603.32 million. Development on Adiala Road, including the Chakri Link from School Road to Biscuit Factory Chowk and Talsa Road, is projected at Rs1,297.660 million. Meanwhile, the upgrade of High Court Road from Bostan Khan Road to Car Chowk, Bilal Shaheed Chowk, and Scheme-3 Road will require Rs423.241 million. Under the City Development Package, a multi-storey parking plaza will be constructed at Liaquat Bagh on the WASA Buzzer Site at a cost of Rs2,532.500 million. An underpass at Stadium Road, linking Nanth Avenue to IJP Road, is projected to cost Rs770.320 million. Restoration and improvement of the western alternative route from Chandni Chowk to Holy Family Hospital via IJP Road will require Rs335.04 million. Upgrades on Murree Road from Hotel Flashman to Faizabad are budgeted at Rs953.250 million. Improvement works on Dhoke Khabba, Hameed Khan Road, Rawal Road, Millat Colony, and Sher Power Colony Link Road are estimated to cost Rs998 million. Construction on Pirwadhai Road from Chungi No 4 to Adda Pirwadhai will require Rs247.266 million. Rehabilitation of Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Road from Chungi No 4 to IJP Road is projected at Rs256.689 million. Service road development from Old Airport to Flying Club Road through Gulzar-e-Quaid will cost Rs224.227 million. Roadwork from Rawal Road and Murree Road to Old Airport Road is expected to cost Rs584.952 million. Internal road development in Ghazni Colony, Dosera Ground, and Syedpur Scheme is budgeted at Rs247.266 million. Additionally, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed in front of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital on Murree Road, with an estimated cost of Rs66.434 million.
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA sends corruption case to anti-graft body
A financial scandal involving alleged embezzlement at the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has expanded in scope, with the misappropriated amount now estimated at Rs1.94 billion, up from an earlier Rs1.64 billion. In response, RDA Director General Kanzeh Murtaza has referred the case to the director general of Punjab's Anti-Corruption Establishment for investigation. The alleged scam is believed to have stemmed from weak financial discipline and a lack of oversight from authorised officials over the past decade. According to sources, since fiscal year 2016-17, funds received by the RDA from the Metro Bus Project and other sources were reportedly disbursed via Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs) to various companies and fictitious vendors. The issue came to light roughly two weeks ago when a discrepancy in the RDA account balance prompted an internal review. Following this, an inquiry committee was established by the RDA DG. The committee was able to retrieve some records from a single bank but faced obstacles in obtaining documentation from other private banks. Attempts to register a First Information Report (FIR) at city police Station were unsuccessful, with police citing jurisdictional limitations. Consequently, a formal reference was submitted to the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment. Sources suggest that the involvement of private banks and the large scale of the embezzlement - approaching Rs2 billion - could lead to the case being forwarded to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) or the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Rs1.5b financial scandal hits RDA
A major financial scandal has come to light within the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). Allegations point to an embezzlement of approximately Rs1.5 billion, dating back to fiscal years 2016-2017. According to sources, relevant officials are now expected to face questioning. An internal inquiry committee has been constituted, and the matter may be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sources said the RDA — the executing agency behind major infrastructure projects such as the completed Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus and the under-construction Ring Road project — has long engaged in a practice of issuing Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs) despite having funds available in bank accounts. This was allegedly done to avoid income tax deductions. However, senior officers reportedly failed to maintain transparency and financial discipline in the process. By protocol, all financial transactions with the bank require joint authorisation from the agency's head and the head of the relevant department. Initially, reports suggested that Rs3 billion in RDA funds were missing. That figure was later revised down to Rs1.5 billion, prompting an internal investigation after years of silence on the issue. RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza has now constituted an internal inquiry committee to investigate the alleged financial misconduct. The committee includes Director Admin and Finance Qazi Sohaib Ahmed, Director State Management Shehzad Nasir Gondal, Director Land Malik Ghazanfar Awan, and Director WASA Tahir Bashir, among others. The committee is expected to summon retired RDA officials as part of the probe. Sources say the committee has yet to obtain any records from the bank. Relevant RDA officials are currently in contact with the concerned bank to secure documentation. The investigation will aim to verify the issuance of the CDRs and trace the actual recipients of the credited funds. According to internal findings so far, CDRs amounting to Rs1.5 billion were credited to various individuals and entities. It is important to note that authority for cash transfers and other financial matters rests jointly with the institution's head and the departmental chief. Despite multiple attempts, Director General Kinza Murtaza could not be reached for comment on the alleged financial scandal.
