KARACHI, July 19: Sindh Minister for Revenue and Political Affairs, Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, announced that the regularization of 25,000 villages would begin in September.

"The inhabitants of villages surveyed in 1987 would be awarded ownership rights," he said while presiding over a meeting of revenue and registration officers at his office here on Monday.

The minister was informed that in the year 1987, as many as 36,000 villages were surveyed, out of which 10,000 were regularized and the inhabitants were given ownership rights by the year 1992. However, the process was later stopped.

Imtiaz Shaikh constituted a committee in order to revive this process. The committee consisting of Goth Abad Project Director, District Officers (Education), District Officers (Revenue), Mukhtiarkars and one elected representative would formulate recommendations by the September and submit the report to the minister after which the regularization would start.

The meeting decided that the survey of Karachi would be carried out and the land vacated by drifting of sea would also be surveyed. About revenue department, Imtiaz Shaikh said that accountability process would be initiated and action would be taken against corrupt officials. Besides, he said that a centre would be established for training and orientation of revenue officials, including Mukhtiarkars and Tapedars. -PPI