The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government on Friday approved a request to grant 9,600 acres of forest land to families of the martyrs of the Pakistan Army.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has ordered the provincial chief secretary to complete all legal formalities and submit a summary in this regard, said a spokesperson for the chief minister.
The Sindh government will grant the land to families of 500 martyrs for agricultural purposes, he said. He added that 200 of the 500 martyrs belonged to Sindh province.
The provincial ministry for Forests, Wildlife and Environment has already issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the allotment, said the spokesperson.
Earlier chairing a meeting at Chief Minister’s House, Shah said that an application of Pakistan Army to the Sindh government for allotment of 35,521 acre forest land in Garhi Yasin, District Shikarpur, was received in 2001. The file was moving from one office to another.
“Since the request has been made for the rehabilitation of martyr’s families and war-wounded military personnel, therefore this request must be honoured. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had personally asked for the allotment of the land,” he said.
Provincial Minister for Forest Gianchand Israni told the chief minister that the land in question was located in the area of Golo Daro of Garhi Yasin. “Its 5,000 acres were under illegal occupation of some influential people which was vacated by the Rangers recently,” he said.
The minister further said that out of 25,000 acre forest land, 5000 acres belongs to private owners. Presently 9,000 acres are available for which his department has no objection if it is allotted to the martyrs’ families, he added.
Chief Secretary Siddiq Memon said the army’s request for land was for the families of 500 martyrs, of whom 200 belonged to Sindh. “Since the request is genuine, therefore it should be entertained,” he said.
So now we understand the problem. Armymen need land.
This is price you pay if you speaks against Pakistani Military Junta
I wonder why non-agriculture & restricted “Forest Land” is allotted. We are saving forest and not cutting them for agriculture, are we? That’s how it was in British time, to allot lands, not anymore. I bet these allottees will sell it in few days to go back to their origins with money. It’s common practice. Pak Govt could have asked enough money for them to buy land in their homelands, why such a big circle for the poor souls.
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