Punjab begins digital mapping of Lahore, other urban centres in $150m project

The Board of Revenue Punjab has, for the first time, launched digital mapping of all provincial urban centres including Lahore under the foreign-funded $150 million project called the Cadaster of Punjab.

As reported by The News, the Board of Revenue has launched preparation of Lahore’s digital map, in coordination with the Survey of Pakistan. Under the project, mapping of all buildings of the provincial capital would be carried out in the first phase, and numbers would be allotted to all buildings.

Along with the number of each building, its area, value and details of its owners would also be digitalized. With the completion of the project across Lahore and other urban centres of Punjab, immoveable properties’ Khasra [legal Revenue Department document] number would be abolished.

Sources said that the Punjab cabinet had given approval to a land reforms law, prepared by the Board of Revenue. Under the law, the offices of the private housing societies would be declared public offices, and record of those societies would be sealed and legal action would be taken against them which would not undergo an audit on regular basis.

Senior Member Board of Revenue Babar Hayat Tarar confirmed to The News that Digital Girdawari [periodical inspection to verify ownership] had already been launched in 807 qanungoiyan [lands falling under one registrar office in a district]. He said that the old Girdawari system had become obsolete, and with the implementation of the Digital Girdawari, 100 percent forecast would become possible about annual crops production. He said that it would be helpful for banks in issuance of loans, as they would have exact record of ownership of lands of the applicants.

Tarar added that all departments would be provided all necessary information regularly after digitalization of the data, and those failing to take timely action would be taken to task.

The Board of Revenue senior member said fake claims of lands would no more work and an amendment to the relevant was being carried out soon. He said the stamp papers sellers have been issued smart cards, and now stamp papers would be issued on while paper. He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has also been signed with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for increasing taxation in the province.