by Bilal Kanjal
Rabia Aurangzaib says process is pending due to non-availability of Interior funds
ISLAMABAD: The federal capital still lacks the facility of Land Records Management and Information Systems (LRMIS) – a computerised land record system – and still follows the traditional filing system (Patwari system) in its land record.
This mega project is on-going in Punjab and many other provinces, but Islamabad seems reluctant to put it in place.
The main aim of LRMIS is to eliminate the curse of Patwari system. With digitised land records, people will be able to get rid of the ‘corrupt land mafia’. The system also ensures convenient property transferring.
This project would have a substantial impact as it has not only made the service delivery efficient but also empowered women in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by protecting their rights in inheritance and facilitating their access to land records.
“The main features of this system include issuance of fard within 30 minutes, transfer of ownership within 50 minutes and safety for owners in claiming their ownership through the biometric data record”. With LRMIS’ introduction, a reliable, efficient and transparent system for maintaining land records and providing access to these records has been ensured.
As far as the old file system of land record is concerned, the Patwaris and influential land mafia have been resisting the computerisation of records as it would eventually lead to transparency in all affairs pertaining to land.
“In different ways, Patwaris do corruption, like hiding a certain piece of land owned by a citizen. But with the computerisation of land records, people will be able to check their property thereby feeding their CNIC number into the system.
“The most common form of the Patwaris’ corruption is delaying the issuance of fard or detail of any piece of land by remaining absent from their offices in order to get bribes,” said Irfan Mehmood of Islamabad.
Rameez Anwar, a resident of Islamabad, said that Patwaris are servants of the government in BPS-5, yet they own expensive cars and are so arrogant while dealing with general public.
While talking to Pakistan Today, another citizen, Asif Nawaz from Islamabad, said that I visited a Patwarkhana located in Tramri chowk for registry and I was asked to give Rs 3000 for each record.
When contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rabia Aurangzaib said that the process is pending because of planning commission and Interior Ministry as we are waiting for the funds to proceed. When questioned about resistance in providing land record by Patwaris, She denied and said that no such hindrance was faced.