NAROWAL: The Sialkot Municipal Corporation and Pera Force claim to have recovered government-owned commercial land worth Rs100 million in a joint grand operation against encroachments in Sialkot.

Sialkot Municipal Corporation Chief Officer Muhammad Zubair Wattoo told Dawn that influential people had illegally occupied the government land and shops had been built there. He said that legal notices and warnings had been given to the occupants of these shops on the instructions of the Sialkot deputy commissioner.

He said that a grand operation against illegal occupation and construction was conducted by the municipal corporation with Pera Force. He said that during the operation, heavy machinery was also used to demolish the illegal constructions and shops that violated construction rules and regulations had also been sealed.

Mr Wattoo reviewed the operation and instructed the field teams to take legal action against illegal constructions without discrimination across the city. He said that to protect the lives and property of citizens, it was essential that buildings be constructed according to the approved map in accordance with the requirements of urban planning.

He clarified that a zero tolerance policy has been adopted regarding illegal constructions and no concession would be made. He said that citizens should immediately contact the planning and regulation wing of the municipal corporation to approve the maps of their residential and commercial buildings and legalise their buildings.

He said that under the Punjab government’s policy, the process of approving maps had been made very easy and transparent. He said that maps were being approved without delays, while all legal requirements were completed after the collection of prescribed government dues.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali told Dawn the operation against illegal encroachments would continue without discrimination.

She claimed that the municipal corporation and the Pera Force had recovered government land worth Rs100 million during the operation. She said that strict legal action would continue against those violating the law.

ACCIDENT: Two youth riding a motorcycle were killed after being hit by a speeding double cabin on the Zafarwal Road.

In his complaint, Anwar Ali, a resident of Bola Bajwa village of Narowal district, said that his son Adeel Anwar and local resident Tahir Munir had gone to Narowal city on a motorcycle for some urgent work. He said that when they were returning home, they were hit by a speeding black double cabin coming from the opposite direction near Faizan Madina Madrasa on Zafarwal Road.

He said that both motorcycle riders were seriously injured in the accident and Rescue 1122, after administering first aid, shifted them to the Narowal DHQ Hospital. He said that his son died before reaching the hospital due to his critical condition. He claimed that after the accident, the driver of the SUV fled from the spot. The injured youth also died in the hospital.

The Narowal City Police registered an FIR against the unknown driver on the request of Anwar Ali.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026