Nearly 0.5m acres of land recovered in DG Khan

District administration demolishes 22,143 illegal structures

DERA GHAZI KHAN: At least 459,860 acres of land has been retrieved from land grabbers during the last two-and-a-half months in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Besides, 22,143 illegal structures have been demolished, while 16 cases were registered against the accused. This was stated by Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Tahir Khursheed during a meeting at his office on Monday.

He said as part of the campaign against illegal structures and encroached land, 10,490 warning notices were issued to shopkeepers, while more than Rs0.19 million fines had been imposed on them. He added that 78 illegal petrol pumps had been sealed, while the police arrested 58 people in this regard. He stated that 66 cases were also registered with fines of Rs0.5 million.

The commissioner maintained that action was also taken against illegal gas decanting, while 12 shops were sealed. Tahir mentioned at least 17 people were rounded up after registration of six cases. He elaborated that during the first 100 days of the PTI-led government, more than 0.17 million different plants were planted across the district.

He said the performance of all the districts was being monitored at a provincial level under the Clean and Green Punjab campaign. “Officers should take personal interest and get goals completed on time,” he instructed. The DG Khan commissioner ordered officials to take strict action against land grabbers and initiate legal proceedings against them.

He instructed them to launch a crackdown against power pilferers and impose fines on them. He said that those involved in running
illegal petrol pumps and oil tankers should be booked to discourage such businesses.

On the occasion, DG Khan Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mazhar Mahar told the meeting that four textile mills were sealed for unpaid taxes amounting to Rs27 million. He added that 5,777 raids were carried out in the district to stop electricity theft, while 1,097 cases were registered against power thieves.