ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Wednesday claimed that a record 25 revenue estates (mouzas) of Islamabad would go online by the end of this month while fate of 28 partial revenue estates between Rawalpindi and Islamabad is yet to be decided.

Presiding over a meeting here at CDA headquarters, Chairman Capital Development Authority and Chief Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa got briefing of ongoing land digitization project.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon, officials of CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and officials of Punjab Land and Revenue Authority (PLRA).

“During the briefing, PLRA officers informed the meeting that the digitization of 25 mouzas of the ICT has been completed. These mouzas will be made available online by the end of this month for the public convenience. Furthermore, two service centres are being established in Bhara Kahu and Tarlai for this purpose,” said a press release issued by CDA after the meeting.

Fate of 28 partial revenue estates between Rawalpindi, Islamabad yet to be decided

Later on, when contacted by Dawn, Mr Randhawa said that he prioritised the issue of partial revenue estate and it would also be resolved. “It [issue of partial revenue estates] will be resolved in the meantime. Both the revenue authorities are working to retrieving the record of partial revenue estate,” he told Dawn.

Earlier, the meeting was also informed that preparations for the launch of E-stamp papers in Islamabad are in the final stages. Following the introduction of E-stamp papers, the process of E-registry will also start in Islamabad, says the press release.

Sources said that the ICT administration wanted to get help from Punjab for launching E-stamp and registrary.

Regarding the CDA record management system, the meeting was briefed that the software testing has been completed, and the housekeeping phase finalised.

Under this project, 130,000 files of CDA’s land and property are being digitized.

According to the press release, the CDA chairman told the meeting that in line with the prime minister’s vision and the interior minister’s directives, this [land digitisation] is a significant step towards making Islamabad a smart city.

He further said that the record digitisation and property management system services would also be provided through an app for Islamabad.

Meanwhile, sources said that apart from the said 112 revenue estate of Islamabad, there are 41 other revenue estates, which are being dealt by Rawalpindi revenue authority as many of them are partial revenue estate.

Before Islamabad was developed, the entire areas belonged to Rawalpindi, but in 60s when Capital City was developed, the Islamabad’s revenue department started dealing the mouzas that falls in the limits of Islamabad. But many mouzas, which were partially falls in both cities, being dealt by Rawalpindi.

However, there are 14 revenue estates, which fully fall in the limits of Islamabad, but despite this, their entire record is being maintained by Rawalpindi instead of Islamabad.

A retired revenue official told Dawn on Wednesday that at a time of creation of Islamabad there were 52 revenue estate that partially fall in both cities. Later some revenue estate were exchanged as some months ago, Rawalpindi administration handed over record of 13 mouzas, but still 28 mouzas are still being dealt by Rawalpindi.

The official said that last year, ICT revenue department also wrote a letter to the Rawalpindi authority requesting them to stop oral mutation as well as sale deed in 41 partial mouzas. But the official said later the Rawalpindi authority handed record of 13 mouzas to Islamabad but still they are dealing 28 revenue estates.

The retired revenue official said that during this ongoing drive of digitization of revenue estates, the issue of partial mouzas should also be decided for good. “It is good, incumbent Chief Commissioner and CDA chairman has been taking personal interest in land digitization issue. He should also play his role to resolve this decade old issue of partial mouzas,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024