ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad capital territory (ICT) administration and the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) again missed the target of June 30 to complete the computerisation of the land record in the federal capital.

According to documents available with Dawn, the IT ministry in collaboration with the capital administration started work on the project in 2009 and was supposed to complete it by June 30, 2013.

However, later they revised the deadline to June 30, 2014. But even after the expiry of the second deadline, only 25 per cent work on the project could be completed.

Sources in the ICT administration cited lack of coordination between the ministry and the ICT administration and resistance by the land mafia and patwaris as the factors jeopardising the project.

Land mafia, patwaris creating hurdles in completion of the project

They said some patwaris and land mafia were opposed to the project and they even created hurdles in sharing the details of lands with the software teams scanning the record.

A senior officer of the ICT administration added: “The land mafia and patwaris know that the computerisation of the land record would close all doors of corruption.”

He said applying different tactics the patwaris were extorting Rs300 to Rs500 from the citizens for the issuance of a ‘fard’ (land document) which otherwise was issued at a nominal fee. The officer said after the completion of the project all the land record would be available online to the citizens.

Meanwhile, a source said out of 108 Mauzas (villages) under the ICT administration, by June 30 the computerisation of land had been completed in only 25 villages.

Interestingly, even in the Mauzas where the land record has gone online, computerised fards were not being issued.

The source said the shortage of patwaris was another reason for the delay as currently only 30 patwaris were working against the 43 sanctioned posts.

He said 11 patwaris working on deputations had already been sidelined. Recently, the deputy commissioner suspended two patwaris for dereliction of duty.

When contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Farasat Ali Khan said there were various reasons for the delay in the completion of the project.

He, however, denied that the ICT administration was facing any pressure from the patwaris and land mafia. Mr Khan said the shortage of patwaris could be one of the reasons for the delay.

“The IT ministry is dealing with the project, so the ICT administration has no major role in its delay,” he added.

When asked why the administration was not issuing fards in those Mauzas where the land computerisation had been completed, the official said for the issuance of the computerised fards an amendment to the existing law was required.

Talking to Dawn at Tehsildar office on Wednesday, Zubair Khan, a resident of Tarnol, said he purchased two Kanal land in Pind Parian village in 2007. Recently, when he checked the record, he was told by Patwari that a portion of his land had been ‘sold’ out.

“I have never sold an inch of my land. I have no idea, who has sold my land. For checking record, I have been visiting Patwari and Tehsildar office since July 1, but to no avail,” he said and added “without a copy of the record how can I check status of my land”.

The Patwari ‘assured’ him that in next few days he would be provided a copy of the record.

However, in Rawalpindi the Punjab government has almost completed this project and started issuing computeriszed fard at many centres, ignoring Patwaris demands.

Meanwhile, a source in the tehsildar office said that last year the ICT administration had moved a summary to the law ministry seeking necessary amendments to the Land Revenue Act but the draft was lying with the ministry.

He said another summary seeking approval of a revised PC-1 for the establishment of four computerised centres had been pending with the Planning Commission for the last three months.

“After the approval of the revised PC-1, the capital administration, apart from the existing cantre at Bhara Kahu, will get three more centres one each at Shah Allahdita, Sihala and Tarlai.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad Jawad Paul said the local administration had nothing to do with the delay in the completion of the project as the ministry of IT was executing it.

He said in the revised PC-1 of the project, which was yet to be taken up by the departments concerned, the IT ministry had set a new deadline for the completion of the project.

When contacted, a spokesman for the IT ministry held the previous government responsible for the delay. He said the project was launched in 2009 but the then government didn’t pay any attention.

He, however, said the government was utilising all resources to complete the project as soon as possible.

Patwaris’ version

President Anjman Patwari Association Islamabad Malik Mukhtar said that Patwaris have some ‘technical’ reservations about this project.

He said that Patwaris demand that all minor level mistakes, which unintentionally committed by Patwaris during the registration of Jamabandi (periodical record) after checking and verifying it from old record should be considered as rectified data.

“Being government employee, we can’t appose this project,” he said and added that all Patwaris are cooperating with their bosses to make this project a success.

In Rawalpindi, Patwaris used all tactics against such project. Even, they staged a number of protest demonstrations against the computerisation of the land record terming it ‘injustice’ to them.

While opposing this project, they claimed that government didn’t give them sufficient time for maintaining manual record and clearing technical mistakes in it before uploading it to systems.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2014