MAIL:
Land transfer operations have been paralyzed for several months in dozens of villages in Tehsil Mailsi, plunging citizens into severe financial difficulties and administrative stalemate.
Allegations of corruption, forgery and mismanagement within the local Land Registration Office have plunged the revenue system into deep crisis, prompting widespread calls for government intervention.
According to official figures of the Punjab Revenue Department, Tehsil Mailsi comprises 309 administrative villages divided into nine revenue zones. Of them, records of 272 villages were digitized between 2017 and 2018, while 37 villages remain outside the computerized system.
Until earlier this year, land transfers in these areas were carried out manually. However, an official notification issued in April suspended all manual transactions in 31 of these villages and ordered them to be digitized immediately.
Six months later, the process remains incomplete, resulting in manual and online transfers being completely suspended.
Areas like Tibba Sultanpur, Muradabad, Jalla Jeem, Bahadur Baloch and Karampur have been particularly affected, where even obtaining a basic land ownership certificate has become impossible.
This administrative paralysis has deprived the provincial government of millions in expected transfer fee revenue.
Local landowners and farmers say they are trapped in financial limbo. “We have signed agreements and made partial payments for the purchase of land, but the transfers cannot be finalized,” said farmer Muhammad Shahid.
“Now, sellers are pushing back to demand higher prices, leading to disputes and losses.” Others, including Amir Hasan and Muhammad Bilal, shared similar frustrations.
Sources claim that certain Land Registry Office officials are deliberately giving priority to specific clients, updating selected “khewats” (land records) on a preferential basis. Meanwhile, some patwaris (revenue officials) allegedly collect cash fees without depositing them in the government treasury but pocket the money. Reports of fake bank challans, forged stamps and manipulation of records have further deepened public distrust in the system.
In the town of Mailsi alone, thousands of pending land transfers remain unprocessed (some for several years), while files in villages such as Dhararwan and Muradabad also await approval.
Insiders attribute these delays to corruption involving officials who allegedly embezzled government fees, leaving transfers incomplete.
Some inspection teams have also been suspected of colluding with Treasury staff in exchange for financial favors, conducting only superficial reviews rather than genuine audits.
Service in-charge at Mailsi Land Registration Office Asim Hashmi said staff are “actively processing available transfers”, but added that “complete digitization of all villages requires additional time due to staff shortages”.
Meanwhile, local patwaris have denied allegations of misconduct, calling them “baseless and politically motivated”.
However, Mailsi Deputy Commissioner Rana Zohaib Kareem confirmed that an investigation has been launched. “If any official is found to have committed malpractices, strict legal action will be taken,” the AC said.
