The Sindh government has officially received state land valued in the trillions of rupees following a massive recovery operation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which is currently investigating cases involving over 461,000 acres across the province.

In a high-level meeting at the CM House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and NAB Chairman Lt. Gen (Rtd) Nazir Ahmed reaffirmed their commitment to a joint drive against the fraudulent appropriation of state land. The session served as the formal platform for the accountability watchdog to hand over the recovered properties to the provincial administration.

The NAB chairman presented a progress report detailing significant recoveries, including 400,000 acres of forest land in Sujawal and Thatta. Other reclaimed assets include 635 acres of Urban Evacuee Land in Karachi, 350 acres of reclaimed seabed in Clifton, and approximately 1,040 acres in Jamshoro, which was secured after the cancellation of 83 fraudulent revenue entries.

The accountability bureau is currently managing 188 cases related to land fraud, comprising 154 inquiries and 34 investigations.

Lt. Gen (Rtd) Nazir Ahmed lauded the provincial government for its unwavering support, stating, "The success of these recoveries is a testament to the collaborative spirit between NAB and the provincial administration." He specifically acknowledged the Board of Revenue"s (BOR) role in identifying and nullifying illegal allotments.

In return, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed his gratitude for NAB"s professional efforts in safeguarding public assets. "The restoration of land worth trillions is a major milestone for the people of Sindh," the Chief Minister remarked.

He emphasised that the recovered territory would be utilised for public interest projects, including the development of parks and recreation centres.

The meeting concluded with a roadmap for future actions, which includes the notification of a new Task Force. Headed by the Senior Member, Board of Revenue (SMBR), the body will feature senior officers from the BOR, CM Secretariat, and NAB. Its mandate is to hold fortnightly meetings to ensure the rapid disposal of the restored state properties.

To prevent future encroachments, CM Shah also instructed officials to expedite the approval of summaries concerning forest and mangrove land.