ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has a total sanctioned strength of 833 posts in BS-16 and above under the Regular Establishment, against which 324 officers are currently working, and a significant number of positions remain vacant.
This was revealed by a senior NHA official while briefing the Minority Caucus, which met here under the convenorship of Senator Danesh Kumar. The briefing further highlighted the distribution of posts across various grades, including senior management positions from BS-17 to BS-22. About the Finance Cadre, the committee was apprised that 88 sanctioned posts exist in BS-16 and above, of which 56 are presently filled. The NHA officials informed the committee that personnel from the Special Services Cadre are also serving in a number of finance-related positions.
The committee was further briefed that the creation and upgradation of finance posts are processed through the Executive Board in accordance with the NHA Service Rules and Appointment and Promotion Rules.
During the discussion, members of the committee raised concerns regarding the representation of minorities in the NHA and questioned why minority candidates were not being selected on open merit. The convener committee emphasised the need to ensure equal opportunities and inquired whether any form of discrimination existed against minority communities in recruitment and career progression. The NHA officials informed the Committee that no formal complaints of discrimination from minority employees had been reported within the Authority.
The committee also took up the issue of vacant posts reserved for minorities, particularly in lower grades. The NHA officials stated that a large number of such positions had remained unfilled due to the discontinuation of recruitment since 2017. Members further stressed the need to review the outsourcing policy to assess its impact on employment opportunities for minorities and other reserved categories. The convener committee informed the meeting that the matter had already been taken up with the relevant authorities and directed the NHA to provide year-wise details of minority quota allocations, vacancies, and appointments to facilitate a comprehensive review of the issue.
At the outset of the meeting, the committee was briefed by the officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the management, maintenance, security, rehabilitation, and facilitation of non-Muslim places of worship in Islamabad. The committee discussed various aspects of the subject and sought further details on the measures being undertaken to preserve and facilitate these places of worship.
The committee received a detailed briefing from the Chairman, CDA, on the eviction notices issued to various katchiabadis in Islamabad, including Ramsha Colony, Allama Iqbal Colony, Miskeen Musharaf Colony, Dhobi Ghat (G-6), and Isa Nagri (1-10). The briefing covered the legal basis of the notices, the status of the settlements, and the proposed rehabilitation measures for affected residents, with particular focus on minority communities residing in these areas.
Following the briefing, the convener committee directed CDA to immediately halt any ongoing eviction operations and refrain from undertaking any further expansion of such actions until the matter is thoroughly reviewed by the Committee. The convener further instructed CDA to present a comprehensive policy proposal in the next meeting, along with the findings of a detailed survey of Ramsha Colony, including the total number of residential units and commercial establishments. To ensure close oversight of the matter, the committee also constituted a Sub-Committee to examine the issue in detail and submit its recommendations for safeguarding the rights and rehabilitation of the affected families.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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