155,000 acres of land retrieved across Punjab

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has declared that indiscriminate action against land grabbers would continue till ‘every inch of the state land is not recovered from the squatters.

While giving details during a press conference at his office on Wednesday, the chief minister said 155,000 acres of land have been retrieved in different parts of the province valuing Rs450 billion.

“It is the largest operation in the history of the province and the task will be concluded at all costs,” he pointed out.

During the last seven days, 12,318 acres of land of Rs22.32 billion have been recovered from illegal occupants in 31 districts, he said. Around 403 FIRs have been registered and 97 accused have also been arrested, he added.

“The PTI government is actively working to curb every sort of mafia and public interest was being fully protected under the leadership of PM Imran Khan.”

The land has been retrieved in Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Rawalpindi, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Multan, Narowal and other cities and the recovered state land will be utilised for public welfare purposes, he said.

The government will also recover damages from the influential involved in illegal occupation of state lands, he continued and indicated that action is not person or party-specific but is indiscriminate that will continue.

It is intolerable to occupy the state land for personal use and no political discrimination has been shown in this action, the CM stressed. Similarly, no one is politically targeted. The government wants to protect the state lands and the political affiliation of land grabbers is simply irrelevant, he appended.

The CM disclosed that a strategy has been devised to best use the recovered lands while the data bank will also be set up in the board of revenue and steps will be taken so that no one could dare to reoccupy such lands, he said.

Action against the land grabbers in 31 districts has yielded positive results during the last seven days and the operation will continue till the complete recovery of state lands in the province.

“The PTI government has waged a war against every sort of mafia and the damages incurred to the state kitty due to land grabbers will be compensated,” he disclosed.

While responding to the questions of the media persons, the CM said the anti-corruption establishment takes action if a government employee is found involved in the occupation of state land but the government has started indiscriminate action without caring for any political affiliation.

“Indiscriminate action will be continued against all; whether it's my relative or an office-bearer of the party, the CM emphasised and added that the government was active against the land grabbers while setting aside the politics and the crackdown will be continued.

To another question, the CM clarified that no ban was imposed on private transport, however, a restriction has been imposed on public transport to overcome the spread of coronavirus.

“Steps have been taken against coronavirus and the government does not want to hold complete lockdown but the spread has to be overcome,” he remarked.

The businesses are not shut down but timings of bazaars and markets are reduced as the government wants the business to run while minimizing the spread of coronavirus.

He clarified that the purpose of government is not to put the people behind bars but to sensitise them to wear facemasks for collective safety.

To another question, the CM said the coronavirus vaccine was being supplied by the federal government but the Punjab government has also constituted a committee to procure this vaccine and the committee will submit final recommendations.

To a question, the CM asserted that corona SOPs will be implemented in Ramadan bazaars while a collective decision will be made in consultation with NCOC about Namaz-e-Taraweeh.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2021.