KARACHI: Accommodating the 14-year-old application of Pakistan Army for grant of 35,521 acres land in Garhi Yasin, Sindh Government has finally decided to allot the 9,000 acres of lands in Garhi Yasin of Shikarpur district for the martyred and wounded personnel of Pak Army.
The decision to allot land to army was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ail Shah at the Chief Minister House. The meeting was especially held to discuss the 14-year-old application of army for grant of land in Sindh. It is worth to note that, PPP leader Senator Farhatullah Babar claimed that the reason behind clash between Rangers and provincial government was because of clear rejection by provincial government for granting thousands of acres of lands.
“Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has decided to allot 9,000 acres of forest lands to Pakistan Army for onward distribution among the heirs of martyred and war wounded military personnel,” said a statement issued by the CM House. “Since the request has been made for the rehabilitation of martyrs’ families and war-wounded military personnel, therefore, this request must be honoured. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had personally asked for the allotment of the land.”
Sindh Minister for Forest Gianchand Israni, Forest Secretary Sajjad Abbasi, Chief Secretary Siddiq Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Almuddin Bullo, senior member of Sindh Board of Revenue Shoaib Siddiqui, Finance Secretary Sohail Rajput, and other relevant parties were present at the meeting.
In 2001, an application for grant of 35,521 acres of forest lands in Garhi Yasin, Shikarpur district was submitted by Pak Army.
“Senior member of Sindh Board of Revenue Shoaib Siddiqui told the meeting that under the policy forest land can be allotted only for agricultural purposes,” said the statement.
“The Pakistan Army has already made request to use it for agricultural purposes, therefore, the government was authorised to allot the land.”
“However, the purpose of its utility cannot be changed and it remains solely for agricultural purpose,” said Mr. Israni.
“The chief secretary would call next meeting to sort out all relevant issues. If one wants to change the purpose of those lands than we need to change the forest rules and for that purpose there is a certain procedure and legislation which requires the provincial assembly’s nod,” he added.
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