The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to introduce a new Land Acquisition Act aimed at providing a lasting solution to land acquisition disputes and establishing a transparent legal framework for compensation and transfer of ownership, Provincial Minister for Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Alam announced on Wednesday.
Cabinet Committee Reviews Land Acquisition Issues
The announcement was made during a meeting of the cabinet-constituted Standing Committee on Land Acquisition, chaired by the minister at the Higher Education Department's committee room. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Meena Khan Afridi and Muzammil Aslam, MPA Zahir Shah Toru, vice-chancellors of public sector universities, and senior officials from the Higher Education, Finance, Agriculture and Board of Revenue departments, as well as the Advocate General's Office and other relevant government agencies.
The committee reviewed legal, administrative and financial issues relating to land acquired for public welfare and development projects. Officials briefed participants on pending litigation, decretal liabilities, transfer of ownership, completion of land records and procedural hurdles delaying the implementation of several development schemes.
Challenges with Valuation Rates and Court Judgments
The meeting was informed that most land had been acquired under the official valuation rates applicable at the time of acquisition. However, subsequent revisions in government valuation rates had created legal, financial and administrative complications, delaying compensation payments and transfer of ownership. Participants were further informed that, in line with court judgments delivered in 2018 and 2019, the applicable markup on compensation would be calculated from the dates of those rulings. The financial implications of the judgments are currently being assessed.
The committee also reviewed decretal liabilities relating to the Mardan Ring Road project. Members examined proposals to amend relevant provisions of the Finance Bill to address financial obligations arising from court decrees.
Minister Directs Timely Implementation and Legal Review
Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of progress on directives issued to a sub-committee during the previous meeting, Aftab Alam instructed all concerned departments to ensure the timely implementation of committee decisions. He said legal and administrative bottlenecks affecting public welfare projects would not be tolerated and directed officials to resolve all pending matters in accordance with the law while safeguarding both public interests and the rights of affected landowners.
The minister also directed the relevant departments to undertake a comprehensive legal and financial review of all pending cases and submit practical recommendations in light of prevailing land valuation rates, judicial precedents and existing laws.
New Land Acquisition Act to Reduce Litigation
Announcing the government's legislative agenda, Aftab Alam said the proposed Land Acquisition Act would introduce a modern, transparent and efficient legal mechanism for land acquisition, compensation and transfer of ownership, significantly reducing future litigation. The committee also agreed in principle to examine a six-year payment schedule carrying a two per cent markup, along with other legal and financial proposals, before referring them to the relevant forums. Participants stressed the need for stronger inter-departmental coordination to remove implementation bottlenecks and ensure the timely completion of development projects.
