PR land no more vulnerable to grabbers, says minister

LAHORE: Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has highlighted the importance of Land department in coming days and said gone were the days when Railways precious land was vulnerable to grabbers, the new department would effectively deal with the land mafia and illegal possessions.

The Pakistan Railways submitted a proposal to the minister regarding restructured model of land and property department. In a meeting here at Railways Headquarters, Lahore, this measure was proposed as part of efforts of enhancing organisational capacity of officials of Pakistan Railways.

The reorganised department is to be headed by a director general directly responsible to the CEO Railways. The director general would be assisted by Director, Joint Director, sector specialist and data-base administration.

The revamped department would professionally manage the land matters of Railways that are currently under AEN/DEN at divisional level. The minister highlighted the importance of the Land department in coming days and instructed officials to devise a plan for divisions and shift land related matters from divisional staff to department as divisional staff was already looking after operational infrastructure, tracks and bridges.

He stated that freight and passenger operations are going to escalate in near future, efficient and direct land management is sure to fetch more revenue in future. He said gone are the days when Railways precious land was vulnerable to grabbers, the new department would effectively deal with land mafia and illegal possessions.

The minister appreciated his team for working on Sundays and said that this indicates their commitment to organisation. Pakistan Railways is the only federal department to work six days a week.

The meeting was attended by CEO Railways, Adviser Anjum Pervaiz, Director Land and Property Arshad Salam Khattak and Chief Personnel Officer Shoaib Adil.