Relocation of patwar offices draws ire

The patwaris shifted their zonal offices, adding to the miseries of residents of these areas.

HARIPUR:

The patwaris of Kalinjar and Swabi Maira patwar circles have shifted their zonal offices to the district headquarters, adding to the miseries of residents of these areas.

Speaking to the media, Jafar, a social activist, said these patwaris have shifted their offices from Kalinjar and Swabi Maira patwar circles to the urban limits of district headquarters, which is about 60 kilometres away. He added landowners seeking documents of land records and students in need of domicile certificates for admission purposes find it difficult to travel all the way to the district headquarters in order to get the paperwork done, paying Rs220 in transport for every visit to Haripur.

“We have to pay several visits to these offices in order to get our work done. At times the offices are closed, the patwaris are not available or they simply transfer our cases to the tehsildar’s office or other departments,” complained Zarin Khan, a landowner.

When approached for comments, Kalinjar halqa patwari, Tasneem Khan, rejected reports of people facing problems, adding that residents have their phone numbers and they call them whenever they need help, even during holidays. He claimed the offices were established several years back with the permission of the tehsildar.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2014.