PM Orders Action as Minister Khel Das Unveils ETPB Reform and Heritage Revival Plan

Rs 2bn tax crisis, admin deadlock: Minister Khel Das steps in on PM's orders, unveils heritage revamp, digital push & anti-encroachment drive for Trust Board
LAHORE ( Nazrana Times) Ali Imran Chattha 

Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Khel Das, has announced decisive intervention to resolve the Evacuee Trust Property Board's mounting financial and administrative crises, acting on the direct instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
During a high-level briefing at the Board's Head Office, the Minister disclosed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has deducted a staggering Rs 2 billion in taxes from the Trust's accounts, severely crippling its annual income and hampering operations. Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, Qamar uz Zaman, informed the Minister that the non-constitution of the Board has further paralyzed administrative decision-making, creating urgent governance hurdles.
"On the Prime Minister's directives, we will ensure effective and sustainable solutions to these tax and administrative challenges," Minister Khel Das asserted, assuring stakeholders that the Board would be made more stable, active, and capable of serving minority communities effectively.
On the heritage front, Secretary of the Board, Nasir Mushtaq, briefed that renovation projects are actively underway at Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh (Peshawar), Gurdwara Bhai Karam Singh (Jhelum), Gurdwara Panja Sahib, and Baoli Mandir (Narowal). Additionally, a comprehensive master plan is being developed for the historic Sadhu Bela Temple in Sukkur.
In a major modernization push, the Board has introduced cutting-edge technology including satellite imagery, e-office, online billing, geo-tagging, a Management Information System (MIS), and e-billing in collaboration with SPARCO to bring the department onto modern lines.
Furthermore, Mushtaq revealed that the Board has successfully conducted effective anti-encroachment operations, liberating numerous valuable trust properties from the grip of illegal occupants and the so-called "mafia" — a move the Minister strongly endorsed.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming that the Board's role in preserving Pakistan's religious heritage and facilitating international pilgrims remains a top national priority.