Pakistan Railways has successfully reclaimed a total of 1,007 acres of land, which holds significant monetary value, from unauthorized individuals through a series of anti-encroachment operations conducted nationwide.
According to an official from the Ministry of Railways, a total of 491 acres of land has been reclaimed in Punjab, 145 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 339 acres in Sindh, and a mere 32 acres in Balochistan.
According to his statement, around 3,287 acres of land in Punjab, 832 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5,180 acres in Sindh, and 687 acres in Balochistan were reported to be subject to encroachment.
According to the official, the initiation of anti-encroachment operations to reclaim encroached railway land across the entire railway network was prompted by the directives of the Supreme Court. A joint procedure order was subsequently issued to all divisional superintendents, outlining the process for reclaiming railway land from encroachment. Additionally, in accordance with the joint procedure order, schedules for anti-encroachment activities are being prepared and distributed to relevant parties on a quarterly basis.
According to his statement, Pakistan Railways has also made the decision to intensify its ongoing efforts to combat encroachment by individuals, groups, and even business organizations throughout the country. The objective of this initiative is to reclaim land that has been utilized for residential, commercial, and agricultural purposes for an extended period of time.
“The initiation of the encroachment operation will be facilitated through collaboration with the Railway Police and the district administrations of the respective provincial governments,” he further stated.
According to the official, First Information Reports (FIRs) were being filed, and cases were being registered and forwarded to PR Judicial Magistrates for prompt adjudication.
According to the official, the Public Relations (PR) entity possesses a total of 167,690 acres of land throughout the nation. Specifically, 90,326 acres are located in Punjab, 39,428 acres in Sindh, 28,228 acres in Balochistan, and 9,708 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.