Punjab Assembly orders probe into land transfer ir…
Lahore: The Punjab Assembly has ordered an investigation into a suspected irregularity involving the transfer of 30 kanal of land after a fee was reportedly collected for only 2 kanal.
The issue was raised during a session of the Punjab Assembly, prompting Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to express concern over the alleged shortfall in fee collection.
The Speaker questioned how land measuring 30 kanal could be transferred after charging a fee applicable to only 2 kanal. He also raised concerns about the potential loss caused to the national exchequer.
The Speaker said that if the reduction in the fee had been made under a court order, the relevant senior official of the Board of Revenue should appear before the court and explain the circumstances surrounding the decision.
The matter also drew the attention of Opposition Leader Rana Aftab Khan, who raised concerns over possible revenue losses and weaknesses in the land administration system.
The discussion highlighted questions about the procedures followed by the revenue authorities while assessing land and collecting transfer-related fees. Members stressed the need to determine how the discrepancy occurred and who was responsible for approving the transaction.
Considering the sensitivity of the matter, the Speaker referred the issue to the relevant assembly committee for detailed examination. He directed that the matter be properly investigated and that the facts behind the alleged irregularity be established.
The development has raised broader concerns about transparency in land transfers, assessment procedures and revenue collection in Punjab. The committee is expected to examine the relevant record and determine whether any official negligence or violation of rules occurred.
The investigation will also seek to establish whether the fee was reduced under a valid legal or judicial order and whether the provincial or national exchequer suffered a financial loss as a result.
