PR leased out 10,750 acres of land, SC informed.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court, while allowing Pakistan Railways to lease land for public use, has ruled that without changing the status, the department could utilise its unused land for different purposes without causing harm to its original nature for the purpose of generating funds.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial heard the railways plea, seeking a review of the June 14, 2021 order in which the apex court had held that not an inch of the department's land will be sold, transferred, leased or handed over to a private person; rather all PR land has to be used for its operational purposes only.

During Thursday's hearing, the chief justice had observed that it was not the job of the state to do business. 'It has been proved all over the world, including Pakistan, that state institutions should not get bogged down in private enterprises.'

'We have before us the examples of the Pakistan Steel Mill, PIA and other institutions,' he added.

'State institutions are in deficit; projects, including PIDCs, are lost due to turnover,' he observed, adding that any government agency opting for initiating a business venture has to seek authorisation from the federal government and parliament to develop a lawful regulatory regime, first.

The court noted that out of 169,128 acres of land, 126,426 acres were being used for operational purposes, 16,742 acres has been earmarked for future expansion, 9,985 acres have been identified to be under unauthorised possession of encroachers whereas 10,750 acres has been leased out for a number of purposes.

The PR Board secretary informed the court that the department was collecting Rs2.5 billion annually through leasing out different lands to private parties but needed permission of the...

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