PR recovers 2,552 acres, steps up national anti-encroachment drive

Pakistan Railways has retrieved about 2,552 acres of its land from illegal occupation during the last five years, from 2020–21 to 2024–25, as part of sustained anti-encroachment operations across its railway network.

An official in the Ministry said Pakistan Railways owns 168,858 acres of land nationwide, of which 12,468 acres, representing 7.38 percent, are currently under encroachment.

He said the department has intensified its nationwide anti-encroachment drive over the past three years in close coordination with provincial governments. Provincial Chief Secretaries and Inspectors General of Police have been formally requested to extend full support, including the deployment of police and law enforcement personnel wherever required.

The official said quarterly anti-encroachment action plans have been prepared and are being strictly implemented to ensure continuity of operations.

He said legal notices under the Possession Ordinance 1965 are being issued to encroachers, giving them a 14-day period to voluntarily vacate railway land and hand it back in accordance with official records.

To strengthen enforcement, all railway land records have been fully digitized, geo-referenced and integrated into the Pakistan Railways Land Management and Information System. The system is also available through a mobile application, enabling real-time monitoring, tracking of encroachments and faster decision-making by field officials.

The official said unauthorized occupation of railway land by government departments is being regularized through leases under the Railway Land Policy, while commercial encroachments are being reviewed under a remedial policy through lease agreements involving upfront premiums and recovery of arrears.

He said illegal occupation or encroachment is dealt with through legal action in accordance with Pakistan Railways rules and regulations, while regular anti-encroachment operations are being carried out to prevent fresh encroachments and safeguard railway assets for future development projects.