Government of Sindh will allot 9000 acre of forest land to Pakistan Army for onward distribution among the heirs of martyred and war wounded personnel of armed forces, officials said.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah held here on Friday.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Forest Gianchand Israni, Chief Secretary Siddiq Memon, Senior Member Board of Revenue Shoaib Siddiqui, Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput and other concerned officers.
The chief minister informed the meeting that an application of Pakistan Army to Sindh government for allotment of 35,521 acre forest land in Garhi Yasin, District Shikarpur in 2001. The file was moving from one office to another.
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“Since the request has been made for the rehabilitation of martyrs’ families and war wounded military personnel, therefore this request must be honoured.
The Minister for Forest Gianchand Israni told the meeting that the land in question was located in the area of Golo Daro of Garhi Yasin.
“Its 5000 acres were under illegal occupation of some influential people which was vacated by the Rangers recently,” he said.
The minister further said out of 25,000 acre forest land, 5000 acres belong to private owners. Presently 9000 acres are available for which his department has no objection if it is allotted to the martyrs’ families.
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The Chief Secretary said that the army request for land is for the families of 500 martyrs, of them 200 belong to Sindh.
“Since the request is genuine, therefore it should be entertained,” he said.
Senior member Board of Revenue Shoaib Siddiqui said that under the policy forest land can be allotted only for agricultural purposes.
The Pakistan Army has already made request to use it for agriculture purposes, therefore government was authorized to allot the land.
Secretary Forrest Sajjad Abbasi said that under the policy the lease holder of the forest land is bound to cultivate forests on 20 percent of the total holding and 80 percent for agriculture purposes.
The chief minister, in principle, approved the allotment of the land and directed the Chief Secretary to move the summary for the purpose. (APP)
