Pakistan Railways has decided to lease out its 75,580 square yard land for a period of 99 years by the end of this year. Sources in Pakistan Railways said that the lease would be offered for various pieces of land for construction of residential and commercial purposes and the parties would not be permitted to use the land for purpose other than the specified one.

Giving details about the expected leasing of land, the sources said that it is on plans of the Pakistan Railways that about 6,000 sq yds of land would be leased out in Bhakkar, 3,212 sq yds in Kamoke, 39,648 sq yds in Tandiwala, 17,400 sq yds in Pir Mahal, 5,000 sq yds in Aminabad, 3,000 sq yds in Attock and 1,320 sq yds in Peshawar.

The sources said that the total land owned by Pakistan Railways is 167,690 acre, out of which 126,425 acre is being operational and 16,273 acre will be made useful in future. Commercial land owned by Pakistan Railways is 3,672.75 acre, residential land is 5,247.06 acre, land for agriculture use is 7,046.92 acre and leased land is 5,682.02 acre.

Giving details of the railway land illegally occupied by various people, they said that during past one-decade land mafia has illegally occupied 3,343.25 acres of commercial, residential and agricultural land of the railways in different parts of the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005