PM Imran Khan chairing a council meeting. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet in a recent meeting underlined the “urgent need” to control the misuse of enemy property. The matter came up for discussion during a presentation on the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB)’s functioning and performance.
The cabinet formed a task force to work out the possibilities of curtailing the discretionary powers of the ETPB chairman in order to stop misuse of authority in leasing out land and property.
The step was taken after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government came to know that the ETPB chairman enjoyed vast ‘discretionary powers’ that resulted in misuse of authority and damage to the interests of the institution.
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It is a little known fact that since Partition in 1947, the ETPB was one of the departments with the most financial worth.
The board owns over 100,000 acres of land, including agricultural, mainly in Punjab.
In the cabinet meeting, a presentation was given on the ETPB working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
The cabinet was informed that on November 7, 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan was given a presentation on the ETPB in which he desired that a presentation should also be given to the cabinet on November 8, 2018 for its consideration.
On the PM’s directives, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony gave a presentation on the ETPB for consideration of the cabinet.
During the briefing, it was mentioned that the trust’s chairman enjoyed vast discretionary powers which had resulted in misuse of authority and damage to interests of the institution. ETPB had a number of properties in urban and rural areas whose market value needed a careful assessment and determination.
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The cabinet took note of the presentation and made the following decisions.
A task force shall be constituted for ETPB and enemy property. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain shall suggest composition and Terms of Reference of the task force.
The task force must suggest corrective measures for securing public interest imbedded in such properties especially by proposing possibilities on curtailing discretionary powers of the chairman as well as asses the possibilities of utilising its income for public purposes like health and education.
The ETPB owns over 100,000 acres of land, including agricultural, in Punjab.
It is not only managing the properties of evacuees and their financial matters and funds, but also all activities pertaining to the Sikh and Hindu community and their sacred places. It also generates its funds by leasing and renting out its properties. The board also handles visits of hundreds of Sikh and Hindu Yatrees arriving in Pakistan to attend religious rituals.
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