Benami properties worth Rs31 billion identified

Details have been sent to quarters concerned in Multan for further action

MULTAN: Benami properties worth Rs31 billion have been identified in Multan division so far.

This was revealed by officials from all four districts of Multan division including Multan, Khanewal, Vehari and Lodhran in a performance review meeting chaired by Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Sahu on Thursday. The details of the Benami property have been sent to the quarters concerned for further action, an official said on condition of anonymity.

Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner said that performance of districts would be gauged on three parameters including cleanliness and keeping the city encroachment-free, price control and revenue recovery. He directed all assistant commissioners to submit a list of all patwaris who were government employees.

He warned officials of stringent action against corruption. He said revenue staff should perform their duty honestly for corrections in the revenue record. He added that all villages should be put online and the record uploaded.

FBR tightens noose on Benami asset holders

He asked officials to take measures to solve revenue-related cases including those filed by expatriate Pakistanis. The commissioner also warned Land Record Centre officials to improve their behaviour with the public and ease the process of 'Fard Milkiyat' and inheritance.

He said the anti-smog campaign was in progress and efforts were afoot to shift brick kilns to zigzag technology for lesser emissions. Those burning trash and plastic at public places would also face the music, he warned.

He said petrol pumps operating faulty measuring instruments would also come under the radar and the quality of petrol may be analysed as per the orders of Punjab CM Usman Buzdar.

Officials informed the commissioner that 391 complaints of overseas Pakistanis have been resolved out of a total 667, while 107 were pending in courts.

As many as 74 profiteers were arrested and 138 FIRs were registered during the campaign against the price hike. An amour of Rs10 million was recovered in fines.

Land Record officials said out of 2,442 villages, 2,248 have been connected online. They said a total of 1.1 million saplings were planted in Multan division during the plantation campaigns held so far. All deputy commissioners, additional commissioners, assistant commissioners, land record officials and others attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2019.