ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has constituted a high-level committee to trace and recover government vehicles allegedly being retained and used by officers without proper allocation.

Concerned officers believe that a large number of vehicles purchased for various development projects were not handed over to the Administration Directorate after completion of the projects and are still being used by different officers.

According to an office order available with this scribe, the committee will be headed by Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to the CDA Chairman Nabeel Ahmed Memon. Director General (DG) Vigilance Khizar Hayat Satti, DG Infrastructure Haider Ali, Director Administration Malik Azhar Khurshid and Director Planning & Evaluation Rajesh Kumar will serve as members, while the Assistant Director (Transport), Administration Directorate, will act as Member/Secretary.

Sources told the Nation that CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf has taken serious notice of the alleged misuse of such vehicles by some key officers of the Engineering Wing and directed that the vehicles be recovered and responsibility fixed against those involved in their unauthorized retention.

The vehicles procured for the execution of development projects are registered in the name of the contractor and, after completion of the project, are required to be handed over to the executing agency. However, in the case of the CDA, such vehicles were allegedly not handed over to the Administration Directorate and are reportedly being used unofficially by some officers.

The high-ups have constituted the inquiry committee to verify the status of vehicles procured under CDA development projects since 2005, with the objective of safeguarding public assets, establishing accountability and determining the present status and utilization of the vehicles.

The committee has been tasked with obtaining complete project-wise details of development schemes executed since 2005 under which vehicles were procured. It will examine procurement, handover, inventory and other relevant records, besides physically verifying the vehicles.

The committee will also verify the ownership, registration, present custody, utilization, location and disposal of the vehicles in accordance with applicable rules and approvals. It has specifically been directed to identify cases involving unauthorized retention, missing, idle or unserviceable vehicles and recommend appropriate action, including fixation of responsibility.

Importantly, the committee will determine the reasons for non-handing-over of vehicles after completion of development projects and recommend recovery of depreciation or financial loss, wherever applicable, including recovery from salary, pension or other lawful dues.

The committee has been directed to submit a comprehensive report to the competent authority within 21 days of issuance of the office order. All CDA Director Generals, Directors, Project Directors and Deputy Directors have been directed to furnish complete and authenticated project-wise records concerning vehicles procured under development projects since 2005.

The office order further warns that no relevant record or information shall be withheld, suppressed or delayed. In case any record is unavailable, the concerned head of formation will be required to provide a written explanation. Failure to furnish the required information within the prescribed timeframe may lead to fixation of responsibility under the applicable rules.

Meanwhile, the administration directorate also retrieved official vehicles from those officers who are either awaiting for the posting or under suspension for further allocation where required.