SWABI, Aug 24: The District Revenue Officer has asked 72 patwaris to immediately shift their offices to their respective union councils. Sources in the Revenue Department said on Monday that the order had been issued about 40 days ago but they had ignored it and stayed in offices in the district headquarters.

The shifting, sources said, was demanded by the people and the union council nazims had taken interest in this regard. People from Gadoon belt, sources said, needed to travel 50 to 60 kilometres but after the shifting of the patwaris' offices they would need to travel only 20 kilometres, adding that it would also end problems faced by the people from Jehangira and other remote union councils.

The patwaris are reluctant to shift their offices. "I will shift only a few books and the remaining documents will remain in the district headquarter office," said a patwari, who did not want to be named. "Others will do the same."

"The government wants to solve the people's problems but what about us? We will face various problems in shifting of offices to the union councils," said another. Action against patwaris, sources said, would be taken within the next three days if they failed to shift their offices.