GUJRAT: The Punjab government has assigned the powers of sub-registrar to naib tehsildar (revenue officer) to approve the execution of property transactions through registered deeds as earlier such powers rested with tehsildars.

This arrangement has been allowed in three administrative divisions of Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Multan by the Board of Revenue (BoR) as a pilot project an it will be extended to entire provinceinnextphase.

According to a notification issued by the office of the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), naib tehsildars have been allowed to execute or approve transactions of property through registered deeds only in those revenue circles or areas where they have already been performing the official duty.

Moreover, the notification says tehsildar will continue to work as subregistrar in the entire subdivision or tehsil.

Prior to the fresh notification of the BoR, the naib tehsildars were not allowed to execute the property transaction through registered deeds.

The deputy commissioners in all these divisions have been directed to monitor the new duties assigned to the naib tehsildars with strict checks and balances.

Official sources say the naib tehsildars are yet to assume the duties of accepting registered deeds of property as it may take a couple of more weeks due to procedural matters. Since the launch of e-registration or online system of preparing and accepting the property registration deeds, proper verification codes, finger or thumb impressions ofthose naib tehsildars are required to allow them an access to the online registration system.

An official said the pilot project has been launched to reduce the workload on the offices of sub-registrars.

DROWN: Two teenage siblings drowned while fishing in a pond of Halsey stormwater channel near Dedhar village on the city outskirts on Friday.

Rescue officials said 15-year-old Aliyan and 12-year-old Adnan of Ghazi Khokhar were fishing in the pond when they fell into the water.

Rescue divers retrieved their bodies after a couple of hours operation and shifted them to Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH).

BOOKED: Dinga police have booked nine people for subjecting a doctor to torture at the civil hospital.

Police said the family members of a child who was in a critical condition, tortured Dr Shahbaz Mehdi when he asked them to shift the patient to ABSTB.

Following the incident, the staff of three public health facilities of Dinga town went on strike.

Senior officials of the Pakistan Medical Association, Gujrat, reached the town and also joined the protest by their colleagues.

Gujrat District Police Officer Dr Mustanser Atta Bajwa and Kharian DSP Arfan Safdar also reached the spot.

The DPO suspended from service the policemen who were on duty at the civil hospital.

Police have registered a case against six nominated and three unidentified suspects under sections 337L, 337F, 186, 147 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code as well as section 25D of the Telegraph Act 1985.