Murad asks BoR to slash property's transfer period from 149 to mere six days

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over a high-level meeting of the Ease of Doing Business Reforms Council Saturday directed the Board of Revenue (BoR) to reduce registration and transfer of property period from 149 days to six days by empowering investors/masses to apply online.

"I am fed up with sub-registrar offices so either correct them or pack them up.... I'll hand over the registration work to private sector," he maintained.

The meeting was attended by leading businesspersons, including World Bank representative Amjad Bashir, Hubco CEO Khalid Mansoor, FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar, KCCI President Agha Shahab Ahmed, OICCI President Shahzad Dada, President ABAD, Sindh Health Care CEO Dr Minhaj Kidwai, Chairman Amreli Steel, Gul Ahmed Chairman Mohammad Bashir and P@SHA President Ms Jehan Ara. The Chief Minister was assisted by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, P&D Chairman M Waseem and PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro.

The chief minister especially called the heads of 10 different government agencies such as KE CEO Syed Monis Abdullah, KWSB MD Asadullah Khan, DG EPA, DG Food Authority, representative of SBCA, Commissioner SESSI, Commissioner Karachi and other concerned.

The chief minister said that the purpose of inviting all of you [leading businessmen and heads of their organisations] is to take your input so that business environment could be improved and made up to the mark. "I have to bring a lot of investment in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Thatta regions," he said and added that 'therefore, I'll take drastic measures to facilitate investors."

The SMBR admitted that the registration of property and its transfer takes 149 days to six months, therefore he would launch an online application where people would be able to apply for registration and the system would automatically generate transfer or registration. On this the chief minister directed SMBR to make it six days and added that he was going to launch the online application by the end of February.

Shah directed the SMBR to outsource the Board of Revenue's call center which has failed to redress public complaints. "We need efficient system and manpower, otherwise ask them to pack up," he directed SMBR.

The Secretary Investment spoke at length about problems, red-tapism, lethargy and inefficiency of the government system.

The chief minister decided that SMBR would launch an online application and appoint two sub-registrars on special duty who would deal and expedite the registration, transfer and mutation cases which lingered on by the concerned sub-registrar for more than three days. It was also decided that e-stamping system would be launched at the earliest by amending the law in the assembly.

Shah said that over 200 multinational companies were working in Karachi and he wanted to provide them more and more facilities so that they could boost their businesses.

Shah said that the SBCA has established a one-window facility for all categories of buildings. He directed KWSB and Sindh Environment Protection Agency to establish an inter-agency arrangement.

The chief minister directed the KWSB and SEPA to use SWF portals for NOCs and include all the six deputy commissioners' officers in the SWF portals. He directed the Investment Department to assist SSGC in signing up the SWF portal.

It was pointed out that KMC, KDA and MDA were using the portal and the chief secretary was directed to ask the Lyari Development Authority to sign up the portal latest by June 30th.

A proposal was floated by industrialists to outsource inspection of under-construction buildings under the SBCA regulations. They suggested handing over the inspection work to ABAD. The Secretary Investment said that Lahore Development Authority has introduced inspection of under-construction buildings through a private party. The chief minister vowed to consider the proposal. It was also decided to establish dedicated and automated commercial courts/benches at Karachi district courts for fast-track settlement of business disputes valuing up to Rs2 million by amending CPC 1908. The chief minister issued directives to law department to provide a roadmap within 30 days.

The Secretary Investment told the meeting that the SESSI has established Collection & Benefits Portal by accepting Over The Counter (OTC) payments in collaboration with the MCD, PITB and SESSI Counter. The SESSI has completed initial data of 18,000 enterprises. Active logins are at 6,644. Therefore, the chief minister directed the SESSI Commissioner to ensure all logins are active within 30 days.

It was pointed out by Secretary Najam Shah that Right of Way permission for Local Government bodies for new connections has a lengthy procedure.

The chief minister directed the secretary local government to introduce quick turnaround time for these permissions. "I want e-system for the requests and permission," he said. Shah also directed the Secretary Energy to automate wiring certificates and it must be done in a month.