The Encroachment of Public Property in Punjab: Reasons and Remedies

Abstract

Encroachment of public property is a legal offence. Yet, it has not been implemented nor institutionalized in Pakistan. The property laws in Pakistan are not upgraded since colonial regime. These traditional property laws have failed in implementing or finding the solutions of the illegal public property grabbing. This is why; citizens utilize the capacity in grabbing the public property for their own interests for both long and short term self-interests and benefits. So, the complaints of encroachment and illegal settlement on public property in the province of Punjab in Pakistan are alarmingly high. Based on the broad geographical boundary of the province of Punjab in Pakistan, this research paper finds that; the issues of encroachment of public property in Punjab are contributing to institutional and legal weaknesses. There is also a missing connectivity of the government institutions to resolve the disputes of encroachment of public property. Thus arising complaints of the encroachment across the province are alarmingly high.