NAROWAL: Sialkot district administration claimed to have retrieved over 16 kanals of government commercial land worth Rs443 million from influential illegal occupants in Daska, Pasrur, Sambrial and Sialkot tehsils.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zulqarnain Langarial told Dawn on Wednesday that influential people had forcibly occupied government land in the three tehsils of the district for the past several years.

He said during an operation against illegal occupants of state land, a special revenue team of the district administration retrieved two kanals and five marla government Land from illegal occupants at Siranwali in Daska tehsil and six marlas at Mianwali Bangla.

The DC said that three kanals and two marla government land has been retrieved in Pasrur Tehsil.

Similarly, he said, the special team has retrieved three kanals and five marlas and eight kanals and 18 marla pieces of government land at Sahu Chak during an operation in Sialkot tehsil.

He said the Sialkot district administration has taken back total 16 kanals and 1 marla government land worth Rs443 million during the operation in the district.

He said that police, revenue department and the municipal committee teams participated in the operation against these influential occupants of state land.

Mr Langarial said a grand operation against illegal constructions and encroachments was also underway in Sambrial, Daska, Pasrur and Sialkot.

He said that during the operation against illegal constructions and encroachments were removed from Defense Road, Kashmir Road, Khadim Ali Road, Railway Road, Pasrur Road, Commissioner Road, Garh Mandi Road and Lahi Bazaar in Sialkot tehsil.

He said that during the operation in Daska tehsil, encroachments and structures were demolished at Old Kachari Road, Fawara Chowk, Nisbat Road, Vadala Road, Bank Road and Stadium Road. The DC said that Chawinda Railway Crossing, Narowal Road, Sialkot Road, Eman Chowk and Daska Road have been completely cleared encroachments in Pasrur tehsil, while encroachments were removed from Main Road in Sambrial tehsil.

He said a district council team has cleared Ugoki Road, Chawinda Road, Badian Road and Mandiki Goraiya Road during the operation.

He said that total 59 roads have been fully cleared of encroachment during the operation in the district.

He said that during the operation encroachments were also removed from 20 greenbelts and 216 streets.

The DC said the district administration has also removed five illegal markets during the operation.

Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Faisal Shahzad told Dawn that an FIR has been registered against 918 shopkeepers and traders during the operation against illegal construction and encroachments.

He said the traffic police officials were also participating in these operations in Sialkot city, along with the district administration.

The DPO said he was personally monitoring the roads cleared during the operation FIRs would be registered against those who will try to occupy the roads.

Mr Langarial said this unprecedented operation against illegal construction and encroachments will continue to ease people’s mobility.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2025