LAHORE (Dunya News) - A bill aimed at safeguarding the collective properties of minority communities in Punjab has been tabled in the Punjab Assembly.
The proposed legislation was moved by Falbous Christopher, Chairman of the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Minority Affairs.
Under the bill, a powerful Provincial Action Committee will be established to ensure the protection and proper management of collective properties belonging to all minority communities residing in the province.
The committee will be chaired by a minority member of the provincial assembly nominated by the chief minister.
Its members will include the Secretary for Human Rights and Minority Affairs, the Secretary for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, the Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Punjab.
Additionally, six prominent individuals from minority communities — including at least one woman — will be appointed as members of the committee.
According to the proposed law, the Provincial Action Committee will compile and maintain a comprehensive record of all collective properties owned by minority communities across Punjab.
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It will also monitor encroachments, illegal occupations, and misuse of such properties.
The committee will be empowered to review matters related to the sale, transfer, lease, and mortgage of collective properties and will submit its recommendations to the government.
It will also facilitate minority communities in addressing issues related to their shared assets.
The bill stipulates that no collective property may be sold, transferred, leased, or mortgaged without prior government approval.
Any such transaction carried out without official permission will have no legal standing.
The legislation makes it clear that no individual may claim exclusive ownership of a collective property.
Under the bill, anyone found guilty of unlawfully selling, transferring, or leasing minority collective property could face up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000.