Since 1947, vast tracts of arid land have remained under the control of influential landowners — Chaudhrys in Punjab, Waderas in Sindh, Nawabs in Balochistan and Malaks in K-P. In K-P and Balochistan, landlords also dominate mining operations. These landlords acquire land through various means, often using wealth or political influence to secure ownership, even resorting to violence. In some cases, they illegally claim land in courts and win through financial or political clout. They build rudimentary shelters for poor tenants, which often collapse in bad weather causing loss of life. This perpetuates class division and social disparity. Feudalism remains unchecked, primarily because these landlords are not taxed. After every harvest, they hand over a meager portion to tenant farmers while hoarding the rest in private storage facilities. By taxing these landowners, the government can alleviate the plight of the marginalised and bridge the socioeconomic gap.
Umair Khan
Lower Dir
