Is the patwari culture making a comeback in Punjab?
Patwari’s role important for hands-on knowledge in rural areas, says Board of Revenue senior member
By
Updated Friday May 07 2021
On January 15, the Punjab government kicked up a storm, when it began to rehire land record and village officers, also known as
patwaris and
tehsildars, across the province.
Was the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) going back on its promise of ending the “patwari culture”? Didn’t it also vow to computerise all land records?
The “
patwari culture” has had a notorious reputation in Punjab. In the past, land record and revenue officers have been accused of corruption such as fudging tax collection to favor wealthy landlords over the poor.