Corruption in real estate

Sir: As the real estate business is thriving in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the property dealers in collusion with patwaris, tehsildars and their munshis are fleecing the people. 

The process of acquiring even a 5-marla plot for an ordinary person is lengthy and complex in which the end user usually ends up spending hard-earned money, and is often forced to knock at the doors of the courts to seek justice.
I am witness to a number of such property deals in which the unfortunate plot seekers are made to pay amounts much higher than the established prices. The process of land acquisition is also a daunting and uphill task. Normally, obtainment of the farad of the plot and its registration in the name of the fresh owner is completed in no time and a small amount of money is paid for that purpose. But usually this is not the case. The influential and greedy patwaris and their munshis in the revenue department charge people hefty amounts and deliberately prolong the registration process. If the initial cost of a 5-marla plot is Rs500,000, it goes up to Rs600, 000 after registration.
This practice has assumed alarming proportions after the October 2005 earthquake and purchase of thousands of acres of land by the Punjab government in Murree and on the peripheries of the twin cities. By not checking the spiralling prices and the complex procedure to obtain ownership rights, the government is directly responsible for this mess. This has led to further widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.
The government is advised to devise a comprehensive strategy to regulate this thriving business and also direct the revenue departments to rein in their corrupt officials.
YASSIR RASHEED
Rawalpindi