ISLAMABAD, July 30: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production has underlined the need for the revival of Military Lands and Cantonment (ML&C) group and suggested that the cantonment boards should give preference to the local population while making recruitment's from grade 1 to 16.

The committee met in the Parliament House here on Friday under the chairmanship of Senator Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf. The committee made these recommendations after getting a briefing on the working, performance and functioning of the cantonment boards by Military Lands and Cantonment (ML&C) department.

The director-general, ML&C department, gave an overview of the organizational structure, functions and performance of the ML&C. He apprised the committee about the government's policy regarding government/military lands leased out to the defence forces for specific purposes in areas outside cantonments.

The committee was informed that ML&C department rendered valuable advice to the armed forces at local, regional and departmental level, and also looked after the services headquarters' interest by providing expert assistance in housing by means of hiring/requisitioning accommodation.

It was also informed that Wapda owed billions of rupees to cantonment boards on account of property tax, ground rent, line rent and other taxes and even if all disputed dues against Wapda were adjusted from cantonment boards dues, a huge amount would be left out against Wapda.

The committee called for resolving the issue amicably and suggested that the finance ministry might get the issue resolved in consultation with two organizations. It was also brought to the notice of the committee that the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Karachi owed over Rs280 million to the Cantonment Board Clifton on account of taxes.

The committee directed the authorties concerned to ensure that dues outstanding against the DHA might be given to the Military Lands and Cantonment department to meet the requirements.

It was of the view that cantonments, which have over the years been surrounded by large civilian population, should be shifted under a phased programme to areas away from the big cities so that training and other professional activities of the defence forces were carried out uninterrupted.

In reply to a query from a member, the committee was informed that there was no concept of leasing out land by the federal government to the defence forces outside the cantonments.

A committee member suggested that a comprehensive law for managing defence lands both inside and outside the cantonment limits needed to be enacted. Similarly, an honourable member of the committee wanted to know whether the resolution of 1925 which is the basis of validity of possession of military farmlands by the army has the force of an act of parliament.