ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has retrieved land measuring 987.074 acres during almost three years (June 24, 2013 upto April 30, 2016) under its anti-encroachment campaign.
It is an ongoing campaign which would continue till elimination of encroachments, official sources told APP. They said the campaign was being monitored by Divisional Superintendents, Railway Headquarter and at level of Ministry of Railways.
The sources said first a detailed survey was carried out to identify railway land under unauthorized occupation and in order to retrieve encroached land, anti-encroachment campaign was initiated.
Meanwhile, the sources said a comprehensive policy had been drawn to prevent further encroachments. This policy makes concerned Pakistan Railway officers/officials and Railway Police officials jointly responsible in case of any new encroachment.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and joint Procedure orders have since been issued for strict implementation of this policy. First Information Reports (FIRs) are being lodged and cases are registered and sent to Railway Judicial Magistrate for expeditious trial.
The sources said during current campaign 1487 cases were registered and 1614 accused were arrested. The cases are being trialed in courts. Moreover, the sources said a project for computerization of Railway land record has been initiated to harmonize Railway land record with record of all Provincial Revenue Departments.
The work was awarded to Urban Wing and physically commenced on April 1, 2015 and is likely to be completed by end of this year. This project, on completion will ensure safeguard of Railway land through a computerised monitoring system and render total transparency in land management and commercialisation.
