Digitization Process To Overcome Land Grabbing, Ensure Transparency: PM
September 08, 2021
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ISLAMABAD, Sep 8 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that digitization and cadastral mapping of lands would ensure transparency in the land record and transactions besides, eliminating the besetting issue of land grabbing.The prime minister was addressing the launching ceremony of the digitization of land records and cadastral mapping of the Federal Capital Territory.The prime minister said that under the two-phase process, the digitization of lands and cadastral mapping was completed in Islamabad and would commence in Lahore and Karachi.Whereas in the second phase, it would be broadened to other urban areas of the country, he added.The prime minister referring to the complexities of the past land record system observed that the common men had faced huge issues while their lands were grabbed by the powerful clique who had no regard for the land of law.“I will commend the efforts of Capital Development Authority and Survey of Pakistan for the completion of the survey of lands in Islamabad. Under the digital data system, lands worth Rs400 billion were retrieved from the land grabbing mafia including Rs300 billion lands of CDA and the other Rs100 billion forest land,” he added.The ceremony was attended by the ministers, parliamentarians, authorities concerned, and media persons.Terming the process as ‘transformative’ the prime minister said, the land record would now be available online, facilitating the people through the use of the latest technology.He said with the use of this technology in Islamabad, 45 acres of green areas along the Srinagar Highway alone had now been stretched over to 113 acres. About, 1,000 acres of forest land was under illegal occupation, he added.The prime minister further said that poor people had always suffered at the hands of land grabbers, but now with the use of such technology, the state lands could be protected. The powerful elements that used to illegally encroach upon lands and amassed wealth would now have fears from the use of such modern technology, he addedHe also opined that overseas Pakistanis had been the biggest assets of the country and they could be wooed to invest in the country by creating a suitable environment and these technological gadgets could be conduits to facilitate them.The prime minister mentioned that rule of law was vital for economic gains as it was the criteria that also ensured justice.He also regretted that chunks of lands belonging to overseas Pakistanis had often been under illegal occupation by the ‘Qabza group’, adding that about fifty percent of cases in the courts pertained to land issues.The prime minister also maintained that his government was making strenuous efforts for afforestation of the country to tackle the looming issues of global warming and pollution by enhancing the forest cover.Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Lt. general (retd) Anwar Ali Haider gave an overview of the digitization and cadastral mapping of lands in Islamabad.He said with the use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and under two phases process, land records in the country would be secured, starting from the Capital.He expressed confidence that the introduction of this system would ensure transparency, better planning, revenue collection, and end land grabbing issues.The chairman further said the survey process in Islamabad was further verified through a field survey.He said besides, identifying lands of CDA and forest that had been under illegal occupation, properties worth Rs300 belonging to Evacuee Trust had also been spotted.(Please send your news, article, pictorial to our email address <editor@enewspaper.com.pk &WhatsApp +923132434567 / +923332100737PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS Thanks)(facebook ID shujaullahk)https://www.facebook.com/Newspaper on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Enewspapercompk-182394028490643(twitter: KhanShujaullah)https://www.twitter.com/home(linkedin: shuja-ullah-khan)https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
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