NAB KP Reviews Legal Framework For State Land Leasing
PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2026) The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on Thursday held a briefing session on the legal and administrative framework governing state land leasing, focusing on revenue authorities' responsibilities, institutional gaps, and measures to protect public land.
The session was attended virtually by Chairman NAB Lt Gen (R) Nazir Ahmed, while Chief Secretary KP Shahab Ali Shah, Prosecutor General Accountability Syed Ihtesham Qadir Shah, Adviser to Chairman NAB on Land Matters Ahmed Ali Zafar, NAB officials, provincial secretaries, heads of departments, and other senior officers attended in person.
Key Points:
In his opening remarks, DG NAB KP Naveed Haider Zahid outlined NAB's three-pronged strategy: awareness, prevention, and enforcement. He highlighted the achievements of the NAB Land Directorate, established in 2025, which retrieved 2.98 million acres of state land valued at Rs5.976 trillion during 2025, with recoveries continuing into 2026.
Zahid addressed data gaps, citing the absence of a centralized repository for state land records and issues related to unauthorized leases, mortgages, and occupations not approved by the board of Revenue. To address these, NAB KP has developed the State Land Management System (SLMS), a searchable database consolidating provincial state land records.
Ahmed Ali Zafar provided a detailed presentation on the legal framework governing land revenue matters in KP, covering revenue officers' functions, civil courts' jurisdiction, and issues concerning provincial and local governments' discretion in state land affairs.
DG Operations NAB Amjad Majeed Aulakh presented a bureau study on state land leasing in KP, highlighting existing system issues and recommendations for greater transparency, institutional oversight, and effective management.
Prosecutor General NAB Syed Ihtesham Qadir Shah discussed superior court judgments regarding land revenue authorities' responsibilities in managing public land, emphasizing the public trust nature of state land and the importance of legal and judicial compliance in its lawful management and disposal.
The session included an interactive discussion on legal, administrative, and operational aspects of land revenue administration, state land management, and leasing. Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah commended the initiative, highlighting the potential for such collaborative efforts to improve mechanisms for retrieving and protecting state land. He also noted that the workshop's recommendations could aid in vetting and formulating effective policies.