PESHAWAR: Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) retired Lt-Gen Nazir Ahmad on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the collaboration between NAB and the civil administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said coordinated institutional efforts could help unlock the economic and public value of state land resources.
During a briefing on land revenue matters, responsibilities of revenue authorities and the legal and administrative framework governing state land leasing in the province, the NAB chairman said that a signifi-cant quantum of state land in the province required effective measures for its identification, protection and recovery.
He emphasised that NAB, in collaboration with the KP administration, could contribute towards strengthening institutional systems and addressing the governance gaps that affect the effective and lawful management of public resources, according to a statement issued here.
Mr Ahmad stressed that government functionaries must exercise their authority strictly within the framework of the law and ensure implementation of all relevant statutory and legal provisions.
He observed that while shortcomings might have occurred in the past, the focus should remain on corrective measures, institutional improvement and compliance with the law.
‘A comprehensive roadmap and mechanism should be developed to address the issues identified during the workshop and translate its rec-ommendations into practical measures,’ he said.
KP Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, who was also present on the occasion, appreciated the initiative and said such collaborative engagements could contribute towards improving the system for the retrieval and protection of state land.
He noted that the lessons and recommendations emerging from the workshop could also assist in the vetting and formulation of appropriate legislation aimed at addressing existing legal and administrative gaps.
The NAB chairman established the Land Directorate in 2025 to combat the usurpation, illegal allotment and fraudulent transfer of state assets and successfully retrieved 2.98 million acres nationwide amounting to Rs5.976 trillion in 2025, while substantial recovery of state land in millions of acres is being made in 2026, according to thestatement.
The session was informed that while replicating the same in KP, major discrepancies were observed in the form of data gaps between deputy commissioners and departmental records due to lack of a central repository pertaining to State Land.
‘Confusion exists regarding true departmental utilisation rights and also unauthorised leases, mortgages, and occupations executed without the approval of the board of revenue,’ the statement read.
It added that to bridge the gap, NAB KP developed the State Land Management System, a software that compiles all provincial state land records into a single-click, searchable database.
A detailed presentation on ‘Legal Framework of Land Revenue Matters in KP: Responsibilities and Obligations of Revenue and Concerned Departments’ was given by adviser to the NAB chairman onland matter Ahmed Ali Zafar.
He provided an overview of the historical background and prevailing legal framework governing land revenue matters in the province.
The session covered key issues including the appointment and functions of revenue officers, jurisdiction of civil courts in revenue matters, and ambiguities concerning the exercise of discretion by provincial and local governments in matters relatingto state land.
NAB DG (Operations) Amjad Majeed Aulakh presented the findings of NAB’s study on land leasing in KP, highlighting key issues identified in the existing system and presenting recommendations aimed at improving transparency, institutional oversight and the effective management of state land leasing.
Another session on ‘Superior Court Judgements on Responsibilities of Land Revenue Authorities Regarding State Land’ was delivered by NAB prosecutorgeneral Syed Ihtesham Qadir Shah.
He said that state land constitutes a public trust. He emphasised the importance of safeguarding it through strict compliance with legal and judicial requirements.
Mr Shah discussed relevant judgments of the Apex Court and Sindh High Court, explaining that such judgements not only resolved disputed matters but also provided important guidance to revenue authorities regarding the lawful management and disposal of public land through transparent and fairmarket mechanisms.
The workshop concluded with a shared understanding that good governance and anti-corruption efforts are complementary pillars of effective statecraft and that strengthened collaboration between NAB and provincial authorities/administration can contribute to unlocking additional public resources for provincial development and the broader public interest.