PESHAWAR: The Military Lands and Cantonments (ML&C) Department, an integral part of the Ministry of Defence, has embarked on a digital transformation journey to enhance public services and ensure effective land management.
As per the details, it is aimed to facilitate efficient local governance in cantonments and streamline defense land management.
This milestone initiative aligns with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Land Use and Building Control Act 2021 and underscores the commitment to responsible land utilization and sustainable development.
Across Pakistan, there are 12 Military Estates (ME) Circles and 44 Cantonments spanning 306,341 acres of land, housing approximately 4.7 million residents as of the 2017 census.
To ensure effective administration, these cantonments and ME circles have been grouped into six regions: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Quetta, with a national-level headquarters based in Rawalpindi.
In line with global trends, the ML&C Department has harnessed modern technologies for efficient e-governance, while business intelligence solutions for enterprise resource planning have also been adopted to ensure efficient management, procedural transparency, and public awareness.
Furthermore, the department has established a data center and an in-house IT infrastructure to develop tailored solutions for cantonments.
Alongside this, multiple integrated IT solutions have been successfully deployed across all ML&C Department offices. State-of-the-art one-window facilitation centers named CBCARE (Cantonment Board Citizen Assistance and Rapid Execution) have been set up in all Cantonment Boards.
The CBCARE mobile app, available on both Android and Apple devices, also empowers residents to register complaints and track application statuses for various services, including birth certificates, death certificates, property mutation, tax exemptions, and more.
In addition to the CBCARE System, similar facilitation centers known as MECARE (Military Estate Citizen Assistance and Rapid Execution) Centers have been established in 11 Military Estate Offices for public convenience.
To enhance transparency, websites for all Cantonment Boards have been launched, providing residents with essential information, contact details of public officials, and necessary documentation for various processes and applications.
Besides, the ML&C Department has also introduced e-payment options for property taxes and related fees through an MoU with 1Link, enabling residents to pay taxes and dues through their bank’s mobile apps from anywhere.
The department has also partnered with the Virtual University of Pakistan to conduct computer-based screening tests for candidate selection.
Furthermore, the department has employed Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map properties within cantonment limits via an Android-based mobile app.
This effort has revealed previously undetected properties, leading to a projected 20% increase in revenue receipts through property tax.
According to officials, this digital transformation underscores the ML&C Department’s commitment to efficient public service delivery and responsible land management, bringing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into the digital age.
Source: The Nation
