ISLAMABAD: Besides the identification of unauthorised and unjustified placement of 98 officers on look after and current charges by the Auditor General of Pakistan, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is still following the policy of ad hocism by appointing 101 officers on current and look after charges. According to the CDA service regulations, when any temporary or permanent vacancy occurs then the current charge of vacant post may be given to the senior most officer in the cadre to run day to day affairs of such a post. The current charge may not be exceeded to three months and in case otherwise the approval of the next higher authority is mandatory to continue the current charge. The audit report of 2015-16 had pointed out that the civic authority allowed current charge and look after charges to 98 CDA officers w.e.f. January, 2013 to March, 2015, without detailed justification and preparation of summaries for regular promotion of the officers to whom the current charge in next grades was allowed. It was also observed that the initial period of three months in most cases had expired, but the approval or authorisation from the next higher authority was not obtained. The audit report considered the current charge and look after charge as an inefficiency and mismanagement of the authority. It is learnt by Daily Times that instead of making arrangements to fill the vacant posts with regular officers keeping in view the recommendations of the audit report, a total of 101 posts of Grade 17 to 20 are still run through temporary arrangements. A total of 30 officers are working on look after charges including six officers of Grade 20, eight officers of Grade 19, nine officers of Grade 18 and seven officers of Grade 17 while a total of 71 officers are performing their duties on current charge including 32 officers of Grade 19, 34 officers of Grade 18 and five officers of Grade 17. These officers are working one step above than their original grade which adds a huge benefit in terms of power and monitory benefits including extensive perks and privileges. Furthermore, most of the appointments on look after and current charge include key postings. For instance, the Member Administration Salman Warrich, Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kiani, Director General Administration Asif Shah Jahan, Director General Works Sajad Zaidi, Director Estate Management and mostly directors of the Planning Wing are being run thorough look after and current charge officers. The ad hocism is prevailing in the civic body from the top to the bottom level which is causing hurdles in the smooth and efficient functioning of the civic body. A source inside the CDA claimed that the high ups were avoiding to appoint permanent officers because a handpicked babu is more convenient to obey all legal and illegal orders instead of a permanent one. An officer, who himself is working on current charge has accepted that it is quite difficult to say “no” to higher ups when you are enjoying luxury perks and privileges higher than your actual entitlement. The internal feuds of officers are also hindering the process of promotions to the next grades and higher ups manipulate these differences as an opportunity to use the officers for their own desires. However, a spokesperson to the CDA, Malik Saleem Akhter, while responding on the issue has said; “There is a shortage of officers in the Authority so temporary arrangements have been made to avoid inconvenience in day to day affairs and such appointments have been made after following the set rules and regulations.”