PESHAWAR, Oct 10: NWFP Revenue, Excise and Taxation Minister Aminullah Khan Gandapur said on Tuesday that sale, purchase, registry, Hiba, settlement of property and transfers of land have been banned, under the  Gomal Zam Dam, Speculation Ordinance, in the project area till completion of the dam.

In a statement issued here, he said that only transfers of inheritance could now be made.

He said that, keeping in view the financial hardships of farmers, necessary amendments were being made in the ordinance, under which agriculture loans could be obtained from the agriculture bank after mortgaging land.

The minister said the ordinance had been issued to provide security to the owners and small farmers, so that no one could purchase their land by misguiding them in view of construction of the dam.  

He said a ban had also been imposed on mortgage, because mortgage papers written for an interim period could later be used for transfer of ownership.

Mr Gandapur said the ban had been relaxed to an extent that land could be pledged with the bank. He said that the notification to this effect would be issued shortly.