PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Auqaf Maulana Tayyab Qureshi has directed the department to launch a crackdown on illegal occupants of its properties and take practical steps to put vacant land to productive use and generate revenue.
He issued the directives while chairing a meeting on Auqaf properties here on Tuesday. Secretary Auqaf Muhammad Idrees, Auqaf Administrator Gul Nawaz Khan and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the department’s properties, vacant plots, rental and lease income, outstanding dues, illegal occupants and the status of waqf land in Kalu Shah, Takht Bhai.
Officials briefed the meeting on encroachments involving private individuals and government departments, as well as efforts to recover outstanding dues.
Maulana Tayyab Qureshi directed the officials to prepare practical proposals for the effective utilisation of Auqaf land to enhance the department’s revenue.
He called for a comprehensive strategy to retrieve illegally occupied properties, stressing that the measures taken should deliver tangible results rather than remain limited to official paperwork.
Taking notice of outstanding dues owed by government departments, he directed the departments concerned to clear their payments without further delay.
He said Auqaf properties were a national trust and their protection, effective management and revenue generation must be accorded priority.
The adviser also directed officials to expedite the auction of waqf land in Kalu Shah, Takht Bhai, while ensuring compliance with all legal requirements and avoiding unnecessary delays.
He further ordered regular inspections of Auqaf properties and raids wherever necessary, warning that negligence in protecting departmental assets, removing encroachments and recovering outstanding dues would not be tolerated.
Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts to improve the department’s performance, he directed officials to resolve all pending matters within the stipulated timelines.
Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2026
