Minister directs payment of land dues in line with court orders

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Aftab Alam has directed authorities to ensure payment of land dues strictly in accordance with court orders, relevant laws and legal vetting by the Law Department.

Presiding over crucial meetings of various cabinet committees at the Law Department committee room, the provincial minister stressed the need for a transparent, viable and legally sound resolution of financial and administrative matters without compromising the rights of rightful landowners.

The meetings were attended by Minister for Higher Education and Local Government Meena Khan, Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Arshad Ayub, Minister for Public Health Engineering Fazal Shakoor Khan, Advisor on Finance Muzzammil Aslam, MPA Zaheer Shah Toru, the Law Secretary, Transport and Mass Transit Secretary, BRT Chief Executive Officer, PKHA Director, Law Department Solicitor and senior officials from the Peshawar Development Authority and other relevant departments, said a handout

The participants comprehensively reviewed compensation and dues determined by courts for land acquired for the Mardan Ring Road, particularly the North-Eastern and Western bypasses. The Law Department briefed the committee on the legal vetting, affidavit requirements and the specific formula used to determine the outstanding dues.

The forum was informed that under Section 18, the total amount stood at Rs11.718 billion, while under Section 151, the amount was Rs2.195 billion, leaving a core balance of Rs9.523 billion under consideration.

Calculated over a 16-year period, a 2 percent rent rate amounts to Rs3.047 billion, bringing the total sum to Rs12.570 billion. At a 3 percent rent rate, the amount comes to Rs4.571 billion, taking the total to Rs14.094 billion.

The committee decided that the vetted formula would also be applied to land liabilities under the Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PKHA) to ensure a uniform, transparent and legally compliant standard for settling financial matters.