STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at transforming the provincial Revenue Department through digitalization, greater transparency, and improved public service delivery. The decisions were taken during the department’s first policy meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Revenue Tariq Mahmood Ariani.
The meeting was attended by Member of the National Assembly Muhammad Atif Khan, MNA Arbab Sher Ali, renowned revenue expert Daud Khan, Senior Member Board of Revenue Zahir Shah Khan, and senior officials of the Revenue Department.
Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Revenue Tariq Mahmood Ariani said the world is rapidly embracing digitalization and information technology, making it essential for the Revenue Department to modernize its operations. He emphasized that effective use of information technology would make revenue services more accessible, efficient, and convenient for the public.
He said the reforms would be implemented in line with the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, with a focus on strengthening governance, ensuring transparency, and improving service delivery.
Among the key decisions, the meeting approved the complete digitalization of the land ownership certificate (Fard) issuance system. Citizens will be able to obtain their Fard through the Dastak App and NADRA e-Sahulat centers, eliminating the need for unnecessary visits to service delivery centers.
The department also decided to introduce Google Earth and geospatial technology for land identification and site marking, significantly reducing discretionary intervention by patwaris. In addition, the entire land mutation (Intiqal) process will be digitized to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
Another major reform includes the digitalization of government land records alongside the introduction of a real-time encroachment alert system. Under the new mechanism, relevant officials will receive immediate notifications whenever encroachments on government land are detected. Failure to take timely action will also be recorded against the responsible officer, ensuring greater accountability.
The minister further directed the establishment of a dedicated public complaints redressal cell for prompt resolution of citizens’ grievances. He also ordered the digitalization of inquiry and departmental disciplinary proceedings against officials, measures to resolve cultivation-related issues across the province, and the introduction of fixed timelines for settling pending land disputes.
Concluding the meeting, Tariq Mahmood Ariani instructed the concerned authorities to ensure the immediate implementation of all approved reforms and directed officials to present a comprehensive progress report at the next review meeting. He expressed confidence that the reforms would modernize the Revenue Department, improve governance, and provide faster, more transparent, and citizen-friendly services across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
