ETPB land worth Rs40bn reclaimed

LAHORE: One-Man Commission (OMC) Chairman Shoaib Sadal said that trust land worth Rs40 billion has been recovered from illegal occupants, while Rs2 billion received in arrears in cash recovery campaign.

Shoaib Sadal, the head of the OMC appointed by the Supreme Court, said this while giving a briefing to the media representatives after the review meeting held at the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) head office on Thursday.

Board Chairman Arshad Farid Khan, Secretary Board Farid Iqbal, Legal Advisor Hafiz Ehsan Khokhar, Director FIA Aaqib Sultan, Adeel Ahmad CA, Registrar Fayyaz Ahmed, Uzmi Shahzad, FIA, Federal Audit and Board officers were also present on this occasion.

Shoaib Sadal said that all the powers are being used to protect the lands and historical heritage under the management of the board. In this regard, FIA and police and modern technology, including Sparco extended valuable support to the commission in completing its desired targets. Efforts are also being made to further increase the income of the board and dispose of valuable properties with the support of FIA, he added.

In response to a question, Chairman Board Arshad Farid Khan said that the occupation of the Samadhi in Gujranwala is being taken. Secretary ETPB informed that according to the orders of the Chairman Board, a special squad has been formed to further improve the operations against the occupying groups across the country.

According to the board spokesperson, Chairman OMC along with the secretary board and other officers visited the historic Jain Temple and Balmiki Temple Neela Gumbad and also visited Gurudwara Dera Sahib and appreciated the arrangements made by the ETPB in the temple and gurudwaras.