Pak Army buying land at ‘carpet’s price’ in Swat

KARACHI - The Pakistan Army has been accused of bypassing all laws while acquiring huge land pieces to set up cantonments in various different parts of Swat.

According to a report in the August edition of the Herald magazine, the Pakistan Army has bought vast acres of land from locals to establish garrisons in Barikot, Kabal, Khwazakhela and Matta regions of the Swat Valley, but the amount it has agreed to pay in return is as low as 73 rupees per square foot.

Local residents have objected to the land acquisition and the prices being offered to them for the fertile land, which is their sole source of income.

“We told the army that this is our source of livelihood but they said there was no possibility of the government acceding to our demand of not building a garrison in this area,” The Dawn quoted a local resident Sher Khan, as saying.

A local political leader, who refused to be named, termed the price set by the military for as a big ‘joke’.

“Paying 73 rupees per square foot for fertile land of Swat is a joke being played on the Swati people. It is less than you pay for a square foot of an average quality carpet,” the local leader said. (ANI)