Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Kiramatullah Khan has directed anti-graft national, provincial agencies and Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) to initiate concrete measures against corruption in the revenue department and present weekly progress report in this regard.
He issued these ruling at the conclusion of the three-day long debate on the performance of department of revenue. The speaker said that amendment in the Land and Revenue Act is the need of the hour and for this purpose, a house committee has already been constituted. He requested land owners and media persons to submit their proposals to the committee. He said that after such a severe criticism government should have to take action in this regard. He said that tampering in the revenue record would not be tolerated and directed that all patwaris in cities and outside should open offices in their respective areas. He also directed them to display their prescribed rates.
Kiramatullah also called for submission of detail of assets, vehicles and other properties of revenue officers and other staffers in the committee within a period of two weeks. He requested members of the house to avoid interference in the affairs of the department, saying all matters would be brought to the House for bringing reforms to come up to the expectations of the electorates. He also said that a detailed report in this regard would be tabled in the house.
Earlier, the house concluded debate on the affairs of the revenue department and rampant corruption by its officials, especially by 'patwaris' with the assurance by concerned minister, Murid Kazim that concrete measures would be taken for making the system transparent. The issue came under discussion in the provincial assembly when two identical call attention notices, submitted by MPAs, Israr Khan Gandapore and Saqibullah Khan Chamkani, were converted into adjournment motion by the house and debate was held on the issue.
The house held threadbare debate for three consecutive days on revenue department and lacunas in the process of registration and mutation. MPAs from both the treasury and opposition benches raised scathing criticism on staffers of Revenue department including patwaris, DRO and others. They demanded of the house to chalk out a new system, which is corruption free, transparent and easy so that people could be saved from paying extra money to the patwaris.
Concluding debate on the issue, Provincial Minister for Revenue, Murid Kazim said rectification in the revenue department is the top priority of present government, which has already constituted a cabinet committee for the purpose. In the light of recommendations of the said committee, he added, a settlement department is being set up within the revenue department. This department will be separate from patwar system and patwaris would have no interference in it, he added.
Similarly, he added, project of computerisation of revenue record of 18 districts of the province is included in the current ADP. However, he said, due to some problem in settlement, computerisation process will take some time. The minister also agreed with some suggestions presented by different MPAs during their speeches and assured the house that these proposals would be given proper consideration. Later, the Speaker adjourned proceedings of the House till Monday April 18, 3:00PM.