ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways is intensifying its efforts to reclaim 13,792 acres of land, valued in billions of rupees, that have been illegally occupied by private individuals and various government departments across the country.
According to an official from the Ministry of Pakistan Railways, the land encroachments are distributed as follows: approximately 5,809 acres in Punjab, 1,181 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5,948 acres in Sindh, and 1,034 acres in Balochistan.
The occupied land includes commercial, residential, agricultural, and other types of encroachments. Specifically, about 769 acres are commercial, 3,309 acres residential, 5,512 acres agricultural, and 4,382 acres are occupied by various individuals or departments.
To address the issue, the department has decided to expedite its anti-encroachment operations across the country. The goal is to recover railway land that has been used for residential, commercial, and agricultural purposes for decades.
Joint procedure orders have been issued to all Divisional Superintendents of Pakistan Railways to facilitate the recovery of land from encroachers. Anti-encroachment operations are being initiated by the concerned divisions, and notices under the Possession Ordinance 1965 are being issued to encroachers, giving them 14 days to vacate the railway land and structures.
Pakistan Railways has enlisted the support of Pakistan Railway Police, District Administration, and law enforcement agencies to assist in these operations.
Currently, Pakistan Railways owns 167,690 acres of land nationwide: 90,326 acres in Punjab, 39,428 acres in Sindh, 28,228 acres in Balochistan, and 9,708 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
