In a significant step toward protecting public assets, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Punjab Board of Revenue have successfully reclaimed thousands of kanals of government-owned land that had been under illegal occupation. The recovered land, spread across various districts of Punjab, is estimated to be worth around Rs433 billion.
The large-scale recovery campaign was launched in September 2025 and focused on identifying state properties that had been unlawfully occupied. Authorities conducted extensive reviews of land records, verified ownership documents, and carried out demarcation exercises before taking enforcement actions to restore the land to government control.
According to officials, a total of 25,444 kanals of agricultural and commercial land were recovered during the fiscal year 2025-26. The initiative represents one of the most substantial land recovery efforts undertaken in the province in recent years.
To ensure that the process continues effectively, the Punjab government has established the Punjab State Assets Task Force. The task force has been assigned the responsibility of locating additional encroached state properties, facilitating their recovery, and ensuring that any future disposal of these assets follows transparent and documented procedures.
Authorities have emphasized that all recovered properties will be managed through accountable systems designed to safeguard public assets and maintain clear records of any transactions involving the land. This approach aims to prevent future illegal occupations and strengthen public trust in land administration.
The government has also encouraged citizens to play an active role by reporting cases of illegal occupation through the official complaint management system. Officials stated that all complaints will be reviewed and investigated to support ongoing recovery efforts.
Beyond land recovery, the Board of Revenue highlighted several administrative achievements during the year. The department reported the collection of Rs9.97 billion in agricultural income tax, reflecting improved revenue enforcement and compliance measures.
In addition, Punjab has accelerated the modernization of its land administration system. Millions of land records have been digitized, making ownership information more accessible and reducing the risk of record manipulation. The introduction of Geographic Information System (GIS)-based property certification has further strengthened the verification process, helping authorities improve transparency and accuracy in land management.
The recovery campaign, combined with ongoing digitization and governance reforms, signals a broader effort by the provincial government to protect public resources, enhance accountability, and improve the efficiency of land administration across Punjab.
As authorities continue their work, the success of these initiatives will likely be measured not only by the amount of land recovered but also by the long-term protection and productive use of state-owned assets for the benefit of the public.