SARGODHA: The Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA) has launched a multidimensional programme of e-registration of sale deeds and other documents in the division in order to eliminate fraud in the sale and purchase of property, prevent tax evasion, increase revenue and provide convenience to the public.

Training of all revenue officers and staff on e-registration was held at the Arts Council Complex here on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Shoaib Ali while inaugurating the programme said the Punjab government has provided the facility of e-registration to the people while sitting at home. He added that a web portal has been created for e-registration which will eliminate the complaints of malpractice of middlemen and fraud.

He said public involvement and individual responsibility have been ensured for good governance.

PLRA Assistant Director Rizwan Chishti said the users would get the challan from the e-stamp web portal. After depositing the prescribed fee with the Bank of Punjab, the users will be able to write the challan sitting at home.

PLRA Additional Deputy Director Muhammad Shafique said users themselves would be able to register vendors, vendees and witnesses. After writing the draft of the deed it would be digitally transferred to the sub-registrar who would conduct biometric verification and record statements of the parties within a given time. An approved registry copy would be obtained after verification of statements.

WHEAT: The wheat procurement campaign is going on in all the four districts of the division and so far 193,992 metric tonnes wheat has been purchased which is 64 per cent of the target (302,860 metric tonnes).

Deputy Director Food Dutta Saqib said 3,008,290 gunny bags had been distributed among 9,931 farmers in the four districts so far.

He said 103,004 metric tonnes wheat has been purchased in Sargodha which is 95pc of the target, 16,934 metric tonnes (80pc) in Khushab, 23,522 metric tonnes (36pc) in Mianwali district and 50,530 metric tonnes (44pc) in Bhakkar.

On the other hand, flour mills association president Mian Muhammad Naseem has rejected the claim of the food department and said the procurement target in Punjab is just a ‘jugglery of figures’.

The department has taken a U-turn on the issue of procurement for the fourth time across the province. He said the government should immediately import one million tonnes of wheat, otherwise the flour crisis will be severe.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2023