The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has appointed three retired brigadiers as directors general of key administrative departments, assigning them responsibilities for civic management, planning and development, and land and estate affairs in Islamabad.
The appointments were approved by CDA Chairman and formalised through separate notifications issued by the authority’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Directorate on October 20, 2026.
Under the new arrangement, Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Brigadier (Retired) Rashid Manzoor and Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Azhar Khan have been posted to Basic Scale 20 positions. Their appointments took effect immediately and will remain in place until further orders.
The officers were recruited through a special hiring process as part of the authority’s recent efforts to induct retired military personnel into its administrative structure.
Three Retired Brigadiers Assigned to Senior CDA Positions
According to the appointment notifications, Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Javed Iqbal has been appointed Director General of Civic Management. He will oversee the directorate responsible for civic administration and municipal services in the federal capital. He was previously awaiting a formal posting.
Brigadier (Retired) Rashid Manzoor has been appointed Director General Planning and Development. His responsibilities will include supervising the CDA’s planning and development activities, particularly matters related to urban infrastructure and the capital’s development.
Meanwhile, Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Azhar Khan has been assigned as Director General Land and Estate Management. He will oversee the authority’s land administration, estate management and related affairs.
The appointments were issued through individual office orders following approval from the CDA chairman. The HRD Directorate has also directed the officers to submit their charge assumption reports to complete the formal posting process.
Further information about the authority’s administrative structure and responsibilities is available on the Capital Development Authority’s official website.
Recruitment Process Faced Legal Challenges
The appointments follow a recruitment exercise initiated by the CDA to fill senior administrative positions in its organisational structure.
According to reporting by Dawn, the selection process involved interviews with shortlisted candidates and initially faced legal challenges after a CDA officer approached the Islamabad High Court over direct recruitment to Basic Scale 20 positions.
The court had suspended the recruitment process in May 2026. However, the stay was subsequently vacated, allowing the authority to proceed with the selection and appointment process.
The recruitment exercise and the court proceedings formed part of a wider debate over the appointment of senior officials in the federal capital’s civic administration.
The three officers will now head departments responsible for important areas of Islamabad’s administration, including municipal services, urban planning, infrastructure development and land management.
Their appointments come as the CDA continues to oversee the capital’s expanding infrastructure, public facilities and urban development requirements. Their performance in the new positions will be relevant to the authority’s efforts to improve administrative oversight and service delivery.
