RAWALPINDI: Day-to-day affairs at the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) are increasingly strained as several critical posts continue to be run on an ad hoc basis, hampering decision-making and delaying ongoing projects.

RDA’s operational load is heavy and time-bound, spanning city planning approvals, building control and enforcement, land acquisition and management, infrastructure development, revenue recovery, complaint resolution, and persistent coordination with courts and government departments. Seasonal peaks in construction activity and litigation-driven deadlines further heighten pressure on core wings, making stable leadership essential for timely execution.

However, the authority is currently functioning with major gaps in its administrative and technical hierarchy. The posts of Deputy Director General, Chief Engineer, Director Planning and five Deputy Directors are lying vacant, with their duties being handled by other officials through additional charge.

Repeated audit observations have warned that prolonged reliance on additional or “look-after” charge weakens operational consistency, slows progress on key assignments, and undermines transparency and efficiency in public institutions.

The vacant positions at RDA include the Deputy Director General, Chief Engineer, Director Planning, Deputy Director Finance, Deputy Director Administration, Deputy Director Planning, Deputy Director Land, and Deputy Director Building Control—roles that collectively form the backbone of the authority’s planning, engineering, and enforcement work.