Punjab State Land Recovery Plan to Boost Revenue

By Mohsin Ali

The Colonies Department of the Punjab Board of Revenue has recommended that the provincial government introduce a policy to reclaim state land worth billions of rupees, which could significantly boost the public exchequer and national economy.

Punjab government land recovery could be a game-changer in resolving decades-old encroachment issues and unlocking major revenue potential.

Punjab Government Land Recovery Policy Recommendations

Abdul Waheed Malik, Member Colonies of the Board of Revenue Punjab, during a meeting of the Punjab Assembly’s Committee on Colonies, suggested this. The committee members discussed the issue of illegal encroachments and pending land ownership rights across the province.

The session began with concerns about a notification not being properly delivered, which prevented several officials of the Colony department from attending the meeting.

The chair directed the concerned officer to fix responsibility for the communication failure.

Mr. Malik informed the committee that they had collected about 80% of the data related to encroached government land. He said that the land had been occupied for decades and fell into three main categories — agricultural, residential, and commercial.

He told the committee that agricultural land could be vacated easily, but residential and commercial properties required a proper policy. “If a policy is made, the Punjab Government can generate not millions, but billions of rupees in revenue,” he claimed.

Illegal Encroachments and Pending Land Ownership Issues

Amjad Javed, a member of the Punjab Assembly, has asked Mr. Malik to bring a proper proposal for the consideration of the government.

He said that after reviewing the proposal in light of past practices, the committee will be able to recommend the government regarding measures against the vacation of the costly state land.

The discussion also covered previous government initiatives.

Members recalled that in 2010, then-Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had approved a policy to grant ownership rights (Malikana Haqooq) of up to seven marlas of land free of cost to long-term occupants. However, in 99% of cases, the formal transfer of ownership was never completed.

Committee members emphasized that genuine residents should not be harassed by officials while action against land grabbers must continue.

They urged that Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners ensure fairness during lease renewals and land recovery operations.

Revenue Potential of State Land Reclamation

The committee also asked the department to prepare a detailed report on allotments and leases of government land in Toba Tek Singh district over the last three years.

It called for updates on the performance of the Punjab Encroachment Removal Authority (PERA) and the local administration regarding illegal occupations.

The participants proposed that instead of forced evictions, a regularization scheme should be introduced. Under the proposal, plots up to three marlas would be valued using the DC valuation table, while plots above five marlas would follow the current market rate.

Members agreed that this approach would help resolve decades-old disputes, reduce court cases, and bring major financial gains to the provincial exchequer.

They also suggested reviving old committees at the district level to review pending ownership cases.

Regularization Schemes vs. Forced Evictions

The Chair directed the Colonies Department to present all previous policies and new proposals at the next meeting. The upcoming session will include a multimedia presentation on the performance of the department and its affiliated bodies.

Role of Punjab Encroachment Removal Authority (PERA)

The committee is expected to finalize its recommendations soon and forward them to the Punjab Assembly and Cabinet for approval — a move officials hope will “resolve the issue once and for all” and unlock long-stalled revenue potential for Punjab’s economy.

Author Profile

Mohsin Ali: Mohsin Ali is a joung journalist and policy analyst with a focus on governance, land management, and economic affairs in Pakistan.

He loves to report on state land policies, urban development and provincial government initiatives, providing in-depth coverage of issues that impact both public administration and the national economy.