Governance Under Scrutiny: Senate Panel Points Out Major Problems in CDA, PTA, and FBR
ISLAMABAD: A recent meeting of a Senate standing committee served as a forum to hold government agencies accountable.
Lawmakers strongly criticized three major organizations — the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) — for various issues related to governance, oversight, and administrative performance.
CDA Faces Criticism Over Missing Documents and Unusual Land Transfers
Lawmakers raised serious concerns about the CDA’s inability to provide essential land documents, especially for property in Islamabad’s I-10/4 sector.
Senators viewed this lack of documentation as an example of poor record-keeping and negligence.
The committee also questioned a case in which a piece of land reportedly changed hands five times within the CDA offices.
These transfers were flagged as suspicious and potentially linked to corruption. CDA officials acknowledged that several such cases had already been forwarded to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation. However, they noted that the process of digitizing land records is still in progress.
PTA Criticized for Inadequate Handling of Offensive Online Content
The Senate panel reviewed the PTA’s compliance report and expressed dissatisfaction with its response to a YouTube channel accused of sharing content that insulted the Sindhi community.
The PTA stated that some of the offensive material had been removed by the content creator, which is why the channel was not fully blocked.
Officials provided this breakdown:
– 23 links were identified
– 12 were blocked
– The remaining links were referred to social media platforms for further action
The PTA explained that while it has the authority to block content, it does not have the power to investigate or take legal action under cybercrime laws.
Lawmakers urged for clearer responsibilities and better collaboration between the PTA and other relevant agencies.
FBR Transfer Policy Sparks Concern: “Where Is the Accountability?”
The committee also raised significant concerns about the FBR’s practice of transferring customs officials in Balochistan based on “intelligence reports” suggesting their involvement in smuggling.
The panel criticized this approach, arguing that simply moving officials without formal disciplinary action allows people with questionable behavior to stay in the system without facing consequences.
FBR officials admitted that in many cases, they lacked sufficient evidence to take legal action.
Security Challenges in Quetta and Misleading Public Representation
The committee also raised alarms regarding growing security issues in Quetta and planned a visit to the city to evaluate the situation firsthand.
Additionally, senators highlighted an unusual case involving a former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, who continues to publish content as if still holding an official position.
The committee described this behavior as misleading and called for clearer definitions of public roles.
Demand for Stronger Reforms
At the end of the session, the Senate committee made a collective call for:
– Better document management
– Transparent procedures
– Stronger accountability mechanisms
– Improved coordination between institutions
As governance challenges persist, lawmakers emphasized that lasting change must replace temporary fixes — or risk further instability in key government bodies.
