PLRA to put all ownership deeds online

LAHORE: The Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA) has given its nod to put property ownership deeds online and these documents will be available on the official website.

The approval was given Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s blessing during a performance review meeting of PLRA. The meeting also decided to put an end to the involvement of patwaris in revenue matters.

It decided to launch a mobile service for the provision of ownership deeds and other revenue-related documents. Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz said ownership deeds could be received from the branches of the Bank of Punjab which will enter an agreement at the start of next month with PLRA.



Under this accord, counters of Arazi centre will be opened at different branches. He hoped this facility would help extend the scope of services and give people an easy way to retrieve their land documents.

He said the Punjab government had taken a revolutionary step by computerising the revenue record of the rural population. The CM warned there was no room for any corrupt officials in these matters.

“Action has been taken against people involved in corruption under a policy of zero tolerance. Strict action has been taken against any officials found guilty.” He said the latest system has been introduced to put an end to corruption and fraud in revenue matters.

The CM directed PLRA to select its best staff on merit for efficient execution of the latest system. He said computerisation of land records was a historic initiative taken by the Punjab government and it would put an end to the archaic patwar culture.



Shehbaz stressed that the role of the patwar mafia, in any shape or form, was unacceptable. The role of the patwari with regard to revenue matters will be eliminated and the affairs pertaining to gardawari will also be withheld. For this purpose, necessary amendments would be made in the law, the meeting was told.

The chief minister ordered the formation of a high-level committee to finalise the future course of action for PLRA. While ordering the constitution of committees to solve complaints pertaining to Arazi centres, the CM said these bodies would help promptly solve complaints in accordance with the law.

Punjab Land Record Authority DG gave a presentation about the performance of the authority. Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Bilal Yasin, Jehangir Khanzada, chief secretary, advisor Dr Umer Saif, PLRA Chairman Rana Babar Hussain, MPAs, P&D chairman and senior member of the Board of Revenue attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2017.