Punjab: CM orders speedy computerisation of land records

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Shahbaz says process should be completed within 18 months
LAHORE: Chief Minster Shahbaz Sharif has directed the relevant quarters to complete the computerisation of land records within 18 months, instead of the previously announced 24 months.

The chief minister ordered this during a briefing given to him by an international company, Sigma Intelligence Limited. The company also briefed him on establishing an e-government.

He said that the land registration project would be outsourced and the Information Technology Department would help the interested companies in this connection. He said a vigorous media campaign should be launched to ensure that the best companies would be attracted to bid.

He also constituted two committees under the chief secretary and the Planning and Development (P&D) Department chairman to negotiate with any interested companies.

Shahbaz ordered the officials to invite tenders from local and international companies, adding that the best bidder should be given the project.

He also directed the officials to focus on the e-governance project. He said this project would save the government’s time, as all files and record would be readily available to all parties concerned after completion of the project. In addition to the special committees that would deal with the parties interested in submitting tenders, the chief minister order for the establishment of another committee under the supervision of the chief secretary to expedite the project.

The chief minister also said that the completion of the computerisation of land record was his responsibility, as the previous government had completely ignored it.

In it’s briefing, the company had told the chief minister that it could complete the land computerisation project within 24 months.

The briefing was attended by Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood, besides the officials of the P&D, Board of Revenue, Information Technology, the Lahore Development Authority, Land Record Computerisation, and the company’s officials.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg13_1