CDA Clarifies Tender Controversy Over Minister’s Residence Repairs

Following strong public backlash over a Rs47 million tender for the repair of a federal minister’s official residence, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) clarified on Monday that the advertisement contained a typographical error.

On August 2, the CDA had invited bids worth Rs47.3 million for the “repair and maintenance of House No. 36 at Minister Enclave, Islamabad.” The tender sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning such a large expenditure on the official residence of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

In response, the CDA explained that the budget was intended for maintenance work on eight houses in the Minister Enclave, not just one property. A corrigendum was issued the following day, amending the tender and removing the reference to House No. 36.

“This was a routine maintenance tender for eight houses. A typo in the advertisement mistakenly mentioned one house,” a CDA spokesperson told reporters. “The error was corrected immediately, and a revised notice was published the next day.”

However, a senior official expressed concern over the explanation, noting that such a major discrepancy between one house and eight warrants a formal investigation. “If this truly was a typo, responsibility should be fixed for such a significant oversight,” the official remarked.