ISLAMABAD: The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has approved Terms of Reference (TORs) of Vigilance Branch to promote transparency in the institution’s administrative and financial affairs and to further improve monitoring system.
Development cases will be referred to Vigilance Branch for independent scrutiny.
According to a notification issued by Board Secretary Farid Iqbal, approval was granted in light of decisions taken during the 344th meeting of the Board. Following the establishment of Vigilance Cell on directions of Chairman ETPB Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman, formal Terms of Reference have been issued to clearly define its scope, responsibilities and powers.
The notification states Vigilance Branch will operate directly under the supervision of ETPB chairman. Its main objective is to improve management of evacuee properties, ensure accuracy of records and strengthen effective monitoring of financial matters.
It has been assigned key supervisory responsibilities in matters related to IT, land and property and revenue. Through IT branch, process of geo-tagging evacuee properties will be monitored, while updating and verification of digital records will also be ensured.
Additionally, the rents of at least five percent of properties in each district will be analysed to determine whether they are appropriate and in line with market value.
Weekly reports on billing, arrears and recoveries related to urban and agricultural evacuee properties will be compiled and presented to the chairman. Unbilled cases will also be thoroughly reviewed and necessary measures will be taken to convert them into billed cases in order to improve revenue.
A comprehensive analysis of lease rates for agricultural land will be conducted, taking into account nature of the land, such as floodplain, rain-fed, well-irrigated, canal-irrigated and orchards. In addition, modern technology and satellite data will be utilised to identify unleased land and assess its status.
