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

[Naveed Yaseen]

Land record computerisation a priority: CM



Monday, September 22, 2008
By Our Correspondent

LAHORE

Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has directed that the project of Land Record Computerization in the province should be completed speedily without any delay in a transparent manner.

He issued these directions after a briefing given by an international firm, Sigma Intelligence Limited UK. The said firm gave a detailed briefing with regard to the registration of land and establishment of e-government in the province.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the bids from the well reputed national and international firms should be invited forthwith for the purpose and advertisements both in national and international newspapers and electronic media should be published widely so that maximum firms could participate in the tenders. After short listing of firms, the project would be awarded to the best firm, he added.

He also constituted two special committees headed by the Chief Secretary and Senior Member Board of Revenue for finalizing the modalities with the firms concerned and steps for early completion of the projects of land record computerization and e-government.

The CM also said that no attention was paid on the project of land record computerization in the past but early completion of the project in a transparent manner was his responsibility. He said that the project of land registration would be outsourced and information technology department would provide all necessary facilities to the companies concerned in this regard.

He said full attention should be paid on the project of e-government for improving performance of government departments. He said that the establishment of e-government was one of his priorities as it would not only improve the performance of the departments but also save the time being wasted due to files and other documents.

He also constituted a special committee of the officers concerned headed by the Chief Secretary for setting up e-government. He directed that the proposed project of land record computerization should be completed within 16-18 months instead of 24 months so that people could soon get rid of obsolete system and the traditional role of patwari could be eliminated by adopting modern system.

He said that benefit would also be taken from the services and skills of Sigma Intelligence Limited UK and it would also participate in the tender of this project along with other national and international companies.

The Chief Minister said that government was determined to serve the people, taking every possible step for elimination of traditional official system so that people could get rid of the problems. He said that land record computerization and e-government would play important role in the development of the province. He said that people would get record of their land ownership easily due to computerization of official record and fake registration of land would be eliminated.

Earlier, the representatives of Sigma Intelligence Limited UK while giving detailed briefing with regard to e-government and computerization of Punjab land registration said that they could complete these projects within two years whereas the Punjab Command Room would be set up for establishment of e-government for which details regarding all departments of the province would be available.

Chief Minister directed the Sigma Intelligence Limited for giving more detailed briefing with regard to e-government.

Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Information Technology, DG LDA, Project Director Land Record Computerization, Chairman Task Force, Haroon Khawaja, Sohail ud Din, Zafar Ali Bashir, Zishan Ali Syed of Sigma Intelligence Limited, besides a number of experts participated in the meting.

Meanwhile, the CM met various MNAs and the meeting was informed that 86,914 children had been given admission to schools in Gujranwala under Equal Education Programme whereas 55 new libraries had also been set up in the district.

The Chief Minister reviewed in details the progress of the projects during a meeting with party delegation led by MNA Engineer Khurram Dastagir.

The MNAs were told that on the instructions of the CM, the government had initiated various projects for the welfare of the people during the last five months in agriculture, health, education and other departments in Gujranwala Division, which would have positive effects on the life of the people after their completion.

As many as, 223 green tractors were being provided through a subsidy of Rs.200,000 in agriculture department in Gujranwala and the staff of agriculture department had been activated for the elimination of adulteration in fertilizer whereas crackdown had been launched against adulteration and quackery.

Eight hundred agriculture information centers had been set up for providing useful information regarding crops to the farmers. The district hospital was being expanded at a cost of Rs 13 million in Gujranwla which was being implemented speedily.

On the orders of the Chief Minister, free dialysis had been started again in the hospital and free delivery facilities would be provided from 27th of Ramazanul Mubarak.

The MNAs were told that funds had been released for six new roads in the district whereas one portion of Jinnah Road had been completed. Roads were being constructed in the Peoples’ colony. At least two hundred and 31 new tube wells were being installed under the project launched by the Punjab government for provision of potable water whereas 24 old tube wells were being repaired. Similarly, the number of disposal pumps was being increased for improving the sewerage and drainage system.

No attention had been paid to desilting of nullahs for the last ten years. The present government had directed the departments concerned to start desilting of nullahs on priority basis which was being carried out speedily.

The MNAs on the occasion told the chief minister that setting up of cheap Ramzan Bazars had been useful for the poor people and on the direction of the CM, steps were taken for the provision of atta which had not only resulted in removing shortage of atta but was also available in abundant quantity in the open market at special concessional rates fixed by the government.

They said that 70,000 deserving people would benefit under the Food Stamp Scheme in Gujranwala.

The MNAs thanked the Chief Minister for taking special interest in the development projects of Gujranwala and extended him invitation to visit Gujranwala which he has accepted.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137276