ISLAMABAD: The management of Capital Development Authority (CDA), after canceling lease, sealed its own petrol pump in F-6 sector on Sunday due to non-payment of dues by its tenant.

The petrol pump is the property of the CDA employees but it is being run by a private firm for the last two decades against a nominal rent and after default of Rs45 million, CDA’s special magistrate Sardar Asif sealed it.

The CDA’s administration wing had been dealing with the petrol pump – a wing which is already facing a special audit.

Sources said that recently several alleged wrongdoings of the administration wing including misuse of CDA’s vehicles and petrol, came to the notice of the management, which ordered the wing’s special audit.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the CDA said that after cancellation of the lease, the civic body had taken possession of the petrol pump site.

It further said Pakistan State Oil and Awan Associates owed more than Rs480 million to the CDA. Despite multiple notices, the companies failed to pay their dues. After serving several notices, the CDA took possession of the petrol pump site, the press release said.

“Moreover, several violations were found on the petrol pump site, which were contrary to the agreement. The CDA had also issued notices for the removal of these violations, but they were not complied with. Due to non-compliance, the CDA canceled the lease and took possession of the site,” it added.

The CDA has decided to allot the petrol pump site through a transparent bidding process and a committee headed by DG Admin will be constituted to ensure transparency in the bidding

process.

The CDA said the case related to the petrol pump site had been pending in the courts for a long time, but after effective follow-up, all cases had been disposed of.

Meanwhile, sources said on the direction of member administration Talat Mahmood a three-member committee headed by Deputy Director General Environment Rana Tahir started work on conducting audit of the administration wing.

According to the notification dated December 31, “the committee will carry out audit of store items/inventory of admin wing, CDA along with assessment of vehicles repair and maintenance record and process. The committee shall identify irregularities and will recommend foolproof/transparent mechanism to address such discrepancies,” read the notification, which did not specify audit years.

However, sources said the committee was directed by the management to focus on the last five years.

Talking about formation of committee, a source in CDA said that recently, member administration came to know about the alleged misuse of CDA vehicles and ordered an inquiry.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2025