Islamabad Set for Smart Governance: CDA, PITB Collaborate on Digital Services Overhaul

Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal)- A high-level and strategically significant meeting was held at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Headquarters under the chairmanship of Chairman CDA, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, and Director General Civil Defence, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Members of the CDA Board, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Director DMA, Chief Officer MCI, all Assistant Commissioners of Islamabad, and DGs of CDA formations. Representatives from the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), led by Chairman Faisal Yousaf, joined the session via Zoom to discuss collaborative digital initiatives.

The meeting focused on two major areas: the comprehensive digital transformation of the CDA and ensuring field-level operational readiness in view of the upcoming Muharram-ul-Haram and the ongoing monsoon season. A significant portion of the discussion was centered around the modernization of the CDA’s One Window Facilitation Center. Chairman Randhawa emphasized the need to upgrade the center into a state-of-the-art digital facility, where citizens could access a wide range of services online, including payment of property tax, water charges, transfer fees, and submission of building layout plans. He stressed the goal of enabling all services to be accessible from home, thereby eliminating the need for citizens to physically visit CDA offices.

The introduction of a cashless payment system, integrated with modern banking and mobile payment gateways, was also discussed. Chairman Randhawa instructed the CDA IT Wing and senior officers to initiate immediate coordination with PITB officials to develop systems that are not only technically sound but also user-friendly. Weekly Zoom meetings between CDA and PITB teams were decided upon to ensure ongoing consultation, knowledge sharing, and the formulation of a detailed action plan. This plan would be presented to the CDA Board for review, containing clear timelines, cost estimates, and implementation mechanisms aligned with global digital governance standards.

It was apprised in the meeting that the CDA is actively engaged in digitalizing land records and automating financial systems, moving away from outdated manual processes. Through this shift to e-governance, official matters will be handled with greater transparency, efficiency, and speed. PITB shared their experience with various digitization projects in Punjab and expressed their willingness to support CDA in its IT and governance transformation. Both sides agreed to collaborate on developing centralized dashboards for monitoring CDA operations, improving service delivery, and creating pop-up alerts for important actions and deadlines.

Chairman Randhawa reaffirmed his commitment to transforming the CDA into a modern, tech-savvy institution that sets a benchmark for public service delivery in Pakistan. He underscored that the One Window Center would be upgraded significantly, not only in terms of technology but also by expanding its service scope. He emphasized simplification of procedures, the necessity of a unified payment platform, and the use of dashboards for real-time tracking of all services. The goal, he said, was to ensure efficient, transparent governance that minimizes delays and maximizes citizen convenience.

In addition to the digital reform agenda, the meeting also focused on critical civic and field-level preparations for Muharram-ul-Haram and the monsoon season. Chairman Randhawa issued clear directives to all Assistant Commissioners, DGs, and relevant field officers to ensure robust coordination across departments. He directed them to identify and act upon illegal constructions, remove encroachments, restore lighting along all major roads and religious procession routes, monitor illegal housing schemes, ensure smooth drainage and prevent waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Instructions were given to ensure the availability of water tankers in water-short areas, maintain city parks, repair damaged roads, and link underpasses and security hotspots with Islamabad Safe City surveillance systems through the installation of CCTV cameras. Officers were told to be vigilant, identify problems early, and address them promptly through coordination with the relevant CDA formations. Chairman Randhawa warned that negligence in these matters would not be tolerated, and that timely resolution of public issues was non-negotiable.

He directed all relevant departments to prepare a comprehensive and long-term action plan to tackle illegal constructions, enhance sanitation, improve parks, and repair roads. The importance of frequent coordination meetings between focal persons of CDA formations and field units was emphasized to ensure accountability and teamwork. He further stressed the need for regular interaction with stakeholders, including traders, investors, civil society, and the general public, to keep improving the city’s services and infrastructure.

Chairman Randhawa made it clear that there would be strict enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. He urged officers from CDA, MCI, DMA, and the district administration to remain active in the field and perform their duties with transparency and professionalism. He reminded all participants that the performance of their departments would be evaluated on the basis of visible results and public satisfaction.

Security arrangements for Muharram were also reviewed in detail. Chairman Randhawa ordered the restoration of all streetlights on procession routes and called for optimal traffic management and security protocols. He directed that Safe City cameras must be fully operational and integrated with newly installed CCTV units at key points. He also emphasized that uninterrupted public access to transport and essential services must be guaranteed during religious events. In preparation for the monsoon season, Chairman Randhawa insisted that all drains and nullahs be cleaned thoroughly and maintained on a priority basis to prevent urban flooding and ensure smooth water flow throughout Islamabad.

To maintain consistent progress and ensure proper implementation of all directives, it was decided that weekly review meetings would be held under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ali Randhawa. All departments would be required to submit progress reports, and performance would be tracked using digital monitoring tools. The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all participants to work collectively and deliver tangible results both in terms of digital transformation and on-ground service delivery.

Through this holistic approach—combining technological modernization with field-level enforcement—CDA under the leadership of Chairman Randhawa is setting the stage for a new era in urban governance. The collaborative efforts with PITB, regular stakeholder consultations, and field-focused planning represent a bold move toward making Islamabad a model city where services are not only efficient and digital but also citizen-friendly and transparent.