Punjab government has initiated the Punjab Urban Land System Enhancement (Pulse) programme, funded by the World Bank, to digitalise land records in Rawalpindi division. The first phase of the project focuses on mass ownership cases, aiming to improve transparency, reduce disputes, and link land records with accurate geographical mapping. Commissioner Aamir Khattak chaired a key meeting alongside Director General Punjab Land Record Authority Ikramul Haq to review progress on the Pulse programme and the partition of mass ownership Khewats.
Commissioner Khattak noted that the initiative is a critical step in transforming Punjab’s land management system, which previously lacked integration with geographic data. He explained that the project will digitalise land records for both urban and remaining rural areas while updating previously digitised records. A comprehensive geographical map of Punjab will be compiled as part of the project, reflecting the actual ground situation and connecting it to the land records. The land registry will be updated to include parcel maps, ensuring that every record is linked to a defined land parcel.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hasan Waqar Cheema, Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Nabil Sindhu, and assistant commissioners and revenue officers from all districts. Officials reported that out of 266 Mauzas in Rawalpindi Division, 205 have been fully digitised while 61 are still pending. Commissioner Khattak highlighted that many disputes in land revenue courts involve mass ownership lands and often continue for years. The Pulse project is expected to resolve these issues by creating single-owner Khewats for at least 80% of cases, facilitating the transition from a Khewat-based system to a parcel-based record system.
For public convenience, Punjab government has abolished fees associated with allotment of agricultural land, including bifurcation and transfer charges. Commissioner Khattak instructed revenue officers to meet project targets, while assistant commissioners will monitor performance daily and deputy commissioners will conduct detailed weekly reviews. The initiative also integrates modern software practices with the Punjab Land Record database, ensuring data integrity and improving efficiency for both authorities and landowners. This digital transformation marks a significant step toward transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Punjab’s land record management system.
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