Computerisation: Punjab’s land records go digital

Tier-3 data centre inaugurated at Arfa Kareem Technology Park

LAHORE: The Punjab Land Record Authority was formally inaugurated on Thursday with the launch of a tier-3 data centre for computerised land records at the Arfa Kareem Technology Park in Lahore.

Under this project, land record centres are operational in 143 tehsils of the province where record of 55 million rural properties has been secured by computerisation.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the digitalisation of land records would help abolish the ‘patwari culture’. “This system will address all land-related problems under one roof,” he believed.

He added the PML-N government laid the foundation of this system back in 1997 but the military coup in 1999 halted the project.

The computerisation of land records aims to put an end to land-related feuds, forgery of documents to claim ownership of someone else’s property and corruption. A backup system has been established in Rawalpindi to ensure the protection of land record files.

Shehbaz said the digital records would be properly secured and no corrupt patwari would be able to steal them or make any changes. “The patwari culture, where files moved with money will end,” he vowed.

The CM said the government had to face a lot of hindrances from patwaris and tehsildars. Just for this project, an independent authority by the name of ‘Punjab Land Record Authority’ has been established.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2016.