A financial scandal of alarming proportions has come to light in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), where an alleged embezzlement of Rs 1.94 billion has rocked public trust in institutional transparency and accountability. Spanning a period from 2016 to 2025, this case reflects not only administrative failure but possible collusion and systemic weaknesses within the RDA and associated regulatory bodies.
The funds in question were reportedly diverted from RDA’s official account, which is maintained at the National Bank of Pakistan, and transferred into personal accounts of specific individuals and companies. This account operates under strict protocols—official funds are only to be withdrawn upon verification of the Director General’s signature, a mechanism intended to ensure institutional integrity. Despite this, the siphoning of funds continued unchecked for nearly a decade, during which the RDA saw an unusual turnover of leadership: seventeen different Director Generals were appointed in nine years, many of them serving brief and seemingly ineffective tenures.
In 2016, large funds were deposited into the RDA account in connection with the Metro Bus Project. At the time, Zahid Saeed served as DG RDA, while Jamshed Aftab was acting as Director Administration and Finance, with the additional charge of Director Town Planning. It was during this period that irregular financial activity is believed to have begun. According to revelations from the Prab Committee—a body tasked with reviewing internal operations—Rs 1.94 billion were gradually funneled out of the official accounts between 2016 and 2025. Compounding the mystery, crucial documentation such as Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs) also went missing during this period.
What is particularly troubling is the institutional response to these revelations. The blame for this large-scale financial misappropriation appears to have been pinned on a single individual, the late Junaid Bhatti, who served as Deputy Director Finance at the RDA from 2016 until his death in 2024. While Bhatti’s role warrants investigation, several facts raise doubts about whether he acted alone—or at all. During his tenure, he was granted two No Objection Certificates (NOCs), one in 2023 for study leave abroad, issued by then DG Tahir Zafar, and another in 2024 for a transfer to Sialkot as DG of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), approved by the current DG, Kanza Murtaza. The issuance of these NOCs implies that Bhatti was cleared of any disciplinary action and not under investigation, further raising the question of whether a thorough financial review was conducted prior to his transfer.
Moreover, the scandal calls into question the efficacy of the Punjab government’s auditing framework. All public institutions in Punjab, including the RDA, are subject to annual audits by the Auditor General of Punjab. Given that this alleged corruption spans a nine-year period, the public has a right to ask: were these audits conducted, and if so, why were such enormous discrepancies not flagged? If the audits were not conducted, it raises a serious question about the performance and oversight of the Auditor General’s office itself.
Equally pressing are concerns about the banking oversight. With millions being transferred from a government account, were standard banking protocols observed? Did bank managers cross-check the DG’s signatures before processing high-value transactions? The absence of red flags in the banking chain suggests a deeper rot or alarming negligence within financial safeguards.
The current DG RDA, Kanza Murtaza, has also come under scrutiny for several administrative decisions and personal benefits. Reports suggest that she currently occupies two official residences—one in GOR, designated as a camp office, and another residence near the RDA gymnasium. It is alleged that approximately Rs 7 to 8 million were spent on furnishing and decorating these properties. There are serious questions about whether this amount was drawn from official funds, and if so, whether any tendering process or public disclosure was made in line with procurement rules. The lack of transparency here only deepens public suspicion.
In addition, DG Kanza Murtaza is said to have prepared a detailed report on irregularities in the RDA’s dealings with the private housing society, Top City. According to sources, the report uncovers significant financial mismanagement that cost the authority crores in lost revenue. Yet, the report has not been made public, fueling speculation that further damaging details may be buried within.
The people of Rawalpindi, and indeed of Punjab, are now looking toward the provincial leadership, especially Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, to launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the scandal. It is vital for the credibility of governance that all those involved—past and present—are held accountable, regardless of their position or political connections. The death of Junaid Bhatti should not become a convenient excuse to close the chapter on a decade of corruption. One life has been lost, but many officials who held key positions during this time remain active in government service and must be brought to justice.
The matter is currently with the Anti-Corruption Department, and the extent to which the government is willing to go to ensure justice will be a litmus test for its commitment to good governance. For the citizens who trusted the system, the question is no longer just about the missing Rs 1.94 billion. It is about whether the system will protect the truth or the powerful.
