DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Survey of Pakistan, the national surveying and mapping organisation, will be consulted to mark the provincial boundary between Musa Khail district (Balochistan) and Dera Ghazi Khan district (Punjab) to settle a five-month old dispute over the ownership of a grazing land between two tribes inhabiting the provincial borderland, sources told Dawn.

After holding several meetings in the last few days, decision of involving the Survey of Pakistan was taken here on Monday in a meeting attended by Musa Khail Deputy Commissioner Afzal Khan and tribal area tehsil Takht Sulaiman Political Assistant Hamza Salik to settle the dispute between the two tribes.

The issue surfaced some five months back when a clash erupted between Ustarans tribesmen of Balochistan and Qaisranis of Punjab over the ownership of the grazing land located in the mountainous area situated on the borders of the two provinces because of the ambiguity in demarcation of the provincial boundary.

After a heavy exchange of fire between the two rival tribes, a truce was reached due to the intervention of the district administrations concerned.

According to official sources, the Qaisrani shepherds claim that they have been grazing their herds of sheep and goats in the area located between the two provinces for around hundred years, but the Baloch tribesmen Ustarans never objected to it.

On the other hand, representatives of Ustarans told Dawn that they were the actual owners of the grazing land as it was a part of Balochistan.

Later, several meeting were held between the respective administrations of both areas, but the issue could not be resolved despite analysis of the revenue record presented by the two provinces.

PA Mr Salik confirmed to Dawn that he held a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Afzal Khan to settle the issue and it was decided that the Survey of Pakistan would be consulted to settle the issue of demarcation the provincial boundary to avoid a future clash between the rival tribes.

He said the truce reached between the two tribes had also been extended till the settlement of the issue.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2021