KHANEWAL, June 21 The local administration on Monday retrieved state-owned 98 kanal prime urban land worth Rs1 billion from the Roberts Cotton Associates (RCA) after getting a permission from the Punjab government.

Official sources say the RCA, a foreign firm, has been in illegal possession of the land situated in the heart of the city adjacent to the Sadar police station since 1981 after the end of the lease period of 99 years.

After the expiry of the lease, the Roberts Cotton Associates's local authorities secured a stay order from the Lahore High Court in a bid to seek extension in lease agreement for further 99 years.

The court, however, dismissed the RCA petition last year and vacated the stay.

Subsequently the local administration asked the officers concerned to vacate the land housing a cotton ginning factory and a number of quarters of RCA employees, but no operation was launched.

Finally on Monday, on the direction of District Coordination Officer (DCO) Qazi Muhammad Ashfaq, a team led by District Revenue Officer Ayub Khan sealed the RCA offices after getting possession of the premises.

The district coordination officer said the entire administration worked hard to retrieve the precious chunk of land. He said he remained in touch with the Punjab chief secretary who gave a go-ahead signal.

Roberts Cotton Associates authorities were not available for a comment.