PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has taken notice of the alleged misuse of land allotted for industrial development in the province, and directed the chief secretary to form a task force to probe the matter.

A letter issued from the chief minister’s secretariat to chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Wednesday highlighted concerns that land purchased and allocated by the government for industrial purposes remained either unused or reportedly being utilised for other purposes.

An official statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat said the letter emphasised that using such lands for other purposes not only deviated from its intended objective but also violated relevant regulations and terms of allotment.

“To ensure a thorough inquiry, the chief minister has instructed the formation of a task force comprising officials from the industries, law departments, and board of revenue,” the statement said.

The letter suggested that the task force should scrutinise all legal aspects related to land acquisition, awards notification and all the relevant documentation; and present a comprehensive plan with actionable recommendations to chief minister for consideration.

Moreover, the letter emphasised a province-wide audit of all land acquired and allotted for industrial development, identifying instances where land was repurposed, adding that legal status of such land must be determined in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

The letter said if necessary, recommendations would be made for reclaiming misused land, pursuing legal action, and imposing penalties.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2025