RAWALPINDI, 27 May , 2025: Major financial irregularities have come to light within the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), along with allegations pointing to embezzlement of over Rs. 1.64 billion.
The accused in the irregularities include retired Director Admin and Finance RDA, late former Deputy Director Finance RDA, former Assistant Director Finance. RDA Director General (DG) Kinza Murtaza has officially sent letters to NAB Rawalpindi, FIA and Anti-Corruption Rawalpindi, requesting early recovery of the money taken from the state exchequer and strict legal action against the concerned persons.
As per the copies of these letters obtained by Bloom Pakistan, the RDA has informed the law enforcement agencies that an internal inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the alleged financial misconduct.
READ MORE: Tax Chamber Warns FBR Transformation Plan Could Increase Corruption
RDA DG Kinza Murtaza constituted the inquiry committee, which 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.
In a letter written to the Director Generals of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the RDA said that they first learnt of the potential embezzlement when it was brought into their notice “that balance funds available in favor of Authority, in bank account No. 3070914452, maintained with city branch (0395) of National Bank of Pakistan, situated at Liaqat Bagh, Murree road, Rawalpindi were not sufficient to meet the budgetary requirements of the Authority.”
The letter also includes details of the investigation committee formed to inquire into the financial mismanagement of RDA funds. “The preliminary information of National Bank of Pakistan shows that there is a misappropriation of RDA funds amounting to Rs. 1.644 billion approximately with alleged involvement of Muhammad Junaid Taj (Late) ex-Deputy Director (Finance) RDA/ DG PHA, Sialkot.”
The fact-finding report from the Probe Committee is awaited, the letter said, adding that there is a strong apprehension that the beneficiaries of this matter and family members of the alleged accused might leave the country or involve themselves in suspicious transactions.
In light of this, the RDA has requested the FIA to take immediate steps to stop their exit from Pakistan and to freeze their bank accounts as a precautionary measure under the prevailing laws.
In another letter to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), the RDA has said that “a probe was ordered to include ex-Director (Admin & Finance), present Director (Admin & Finance), ex-Deputy Director (Finance) and present Deputy Director (Finance), ex-Assistant Director (Finance) and present Assistant Director (Finance-I & II) through a questionnaire.”
However, when the respondents failed to provide answers to the questionnaire, “and suicide incident of ex-Deputy Director (Finance) RDA, then DG PHA, Sialkot, it was confirmed that original CDRs [cash deposit receipts] were missing.”
READ MORE: Youth Breaking Corruption Chains: Pakistan’s Anti-Corruption Day 2025
The Authority informed the ACE that letters have also been dispatched to the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for the provision of CDRS and stoppage of payments to all vendors and contractors on all cheques, pay orders or CDRS.
