MURREE, July 3 MNA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi severely criticised on Friday the forest and revenue departments for destroying land record to hide evidence of encroachment on vast swaths of land in Murree.

Mr Abbasi, who also heads the Punjab chief minister's steering committee on development of Murree, said “every inch of state land will be recovered and the perpetrators will be taken to court.”

He stated this while briefing reporters about a new 'Master Plan' prepared for the tourist town on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Mr Abbasi said the chief minister was “very much concerned” about the encroachment which involved collusion and corruption on the part of government officials. Many such cases are already in courts, he added.

Land grabbers with the connivance of some officials of the forest and revenue departments have removed thousands of demarcation pillars from the forest land, according to the parliamentarian.

Mr Abbasi said the corrupt officials had also destroyed the land record to help the encroachers.

About the issue of illegal construction activity, he said Mr Sharif had ordered a ban on all kinds of heavy construction, adding that stern action, including demolition of buildings, would be taken against the violators without any discrimination.

“The CM is very much keen to resolve the problems faced by tourists and local people in Murree.”

Mr Abbasi said under the new plan, the government degree colleges for boys and girls would be renovated and their buildings upgraded, whereas schools in the town would also be provided with all essential facilities.

Similarly, a new state-of-the-art 150-bed hospital will be constructed at Kuldanna. Widening of roads in Murree is also part of the plan.

According to Mr Abbasi, a multi-storey parking plaza had already been announced and its construction would start soon after the ongoing peak season at the hill resort.

He said a project to supply water from Kohala to Murree would be completed soon, resolving the longstanding problem of water shortage.