CM Maryam’s double blow to corruption as land reforms, crackdown intensify

The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has launched a two-pronged drive against corruption and outdated practices

LAHORE: The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has launched a two-pronged drive against corruption and outdated practices in the Revenue Department, combining digital land reforms with a province-wide crackdown on corrupt officials.

The PULSE Project’s “One Owner – One Wara” initiative has been launched in District Narowal, while a major anti-corruption operation has reportedly led to the arrest of more than 60 officers and officials and the recovery of millions of rupees. Amid the mounting pressure, Tehsildar Muhammad Hassan Khalid of Pasrur, Sialkot, has resigned, with departmental sources describing it as the “first wicket” to fall.

For decades, farmers and landowners have faced delays, complicated procedures and alleged bribery in matters involving land ownership and partition. The new initiative seeks to replace the traditional system with a faster and more transparent mechanism.

According to DC Narowal Order No. NTO/3094, dated September 11, 2026, issued under Section 135-B of the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Act, 2026, agricultural Khewats having between two and five owners in every Mauza of Narowal will be partitioned during the first phase. Final orders are scheduled to be issued by October 12, 2026.

Under the new system, Revenue Officers will be required to complete partition proceedings within 60 days on a suo motu basis, eliminating the need for landowners to repeatedly submit applications. Patwaris will be limited largely to inheritance-related Intiqal matters, while sales, gifts and partitions will be processed through the Punjab Land Records Authority’s digital system.

The reform will also introduce GIS-based parcel identification under PULSE, replacing traditional paper-based Khasra records and helping reduce overlapping claims. Partition fees, commonly referred to as Wanda fees, have also been abolished for farmers and small landowners.

Officials will further be required to conduct field visits, demarcate boundaries and address illegal occupation through the prescribed process, aiming to provide landowners with clearer and more direct access to their property.

Alongside the reforms, the provincial government has intensified its anti-corruption campaign. Sources said more than 60 officers and officials have been arrested in a short period, with millions of rupees recovered during the operation.

Attempts by some Revenue Department officials, particularly Patwaris, to resist the campaign through office closures and pen-down strikes reportedly failed to stop the crackdown. Sources claimed that some officials accused of corruption are now considering leaving the province or moving abroad amid fears of arrest, departmental proceedings and asset seizures.

The pressure has also resulted in the resignation of Muhammad Hassan Khalid, Tehsildar (BS-16), Tehsil Pasrur, District Sialkot. His resignation was submitted to the Senior Member Board of Revenue on September 8 and received through Diary No. 2985 on September 11. The officer cited “unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for stepping down. He had been appointed through Notification No. 1447-2026/1448-E(F)I dated June 15, 2026.

Departmental sources described the resignation as an early indication of the impact of the ongoing crackdown, saying further action could follow as investigations and accountability proceedings continue.

The government plans to expand the PULSE land reform model to other districts of Punjab. In Narowal, objections will be heard until October 10, with final partition orders expected on October 12.

The combined strategy of digitising land records, reducing the role of intermediaries, accelerating partition proceedings and pursuing alleged corruption represents a significant shift in the province’s approach to revenue administration. Further arrests and recoveries are expected as the crackdown continues.