Notes of life

The Clifton Karachi is one of the largest cantonments of Pakistan

The Military Lands & Cantonments Group ( ML & C) is responsible for administering the Military Lands & Cantonments Department which in turn looks after the various Cantonment Boards and military estates that do not fall within the domain of the civil municipal/district administrations of the respective cities / towns. The department is headed by the Director General, Military Lands & Cantonments (BS-21). He is followed in hierarchy by an Additional Director General (BS-20), assisted by five Regional Directors (BS-20) (i.e. Karachi,Quetta, Lahore Rawalpindi & Peshawar). They in turn are followed by Cantonment Executive Officers (CEOs) and Military Estates Officers (MEOs).

In majority of the cantonments there are CEOs and a MEOs. In some of the stations there is only a CEO. In some of the cities there are more than one cantonments. e.g in Rawalpindi there is Rawalpindi Cantt and Chaklala Cantt. In Lahore there is Lahore and Walton Cantt. In Karachi there are probably 6-7 Cantts which include Faisal, Clifton, Malir etc etc.

17 – 19 Grade Officers are posted as CEOs and MEOs. In small stations like Risalpur, Mangla, Kharian, Havelian etc. BS-17 officers are usually posted. BS-18 officers are posted to Gujranwala, Sargodha, Hyderabad, Abbottabad or as Additional CEO in big cities. 19 grade officers are posted as CEOs and MEOs at Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Karachi and Quetta.

In MLCG living standard is very high. Big beautiful banglows in posh cantonment areas, cars, almost ten designated servants and many more facilities like phone, newspaper etc are the norm. When promoted to BS-19, officers usually get two cars. The houses are furnished at the will of the officers. MLCG rest houses are in every major city. One can live up to many months even in the rest houses if needed.

Although there is no political pressure or interference on officers but there is significant Military interference. For example, CEO Peshawar (BS-19) has to work with the Station Commander (normally a Brigadier) and GOC (Maj Gen or Lt Gen). Although MLCG officers do not come directly under the GOC, however due to their seniority, MLCG officers are required to give due deference to them. It is said that if an officer maintains good relations with the Cantonment’s Station Commander and GOC, he literally lives like a Kinf in the cantonment.

Induction in this group was ceased by Gen. Musharraf for 8 years, which resulted in shortage of officers. This means that MLCG officers can expect rapid promotion from BS-17 to BS-18. However, due to shortage of senior level positions most MLCG Officers retire at BS-20. MLCG traditionally has no or limited Specialised Training and freshly inducted officers can expect to join the field within weeks of completing their CTP.

The domain of the executive officers extends to cantonments in which they perform municipal and quasi-judicial functions. The executive officers have to generate the funds by levying different taxes/charges. Responsibilities of CEO include Property Tax Assessment; House Tax collection; Water Tax collection; Sewerage Tax collection; Mutation on leased land/private property sale; awarding advertisement spots bsedies fixing advertisement rates; professional practice license; professional tax; water connection; maintenance and repair of roads, fountains, parks; project management etc.

Each cantonment board is headed by a President Cantonment Board who is a serving armed forces officer and the cantonment executive officer is the Secretary of the Board.

Balochistan

Khuzdar Cantonment

Loralai Cantonment

Ormara Cantonment

Quetta Cantonment

Zhob Cantonment

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abbottabad Cantonment

Bannu Cantonment

Dera Ismail Khan Cantonment

Kohat Cantonment

Mardan Cantonment

Nowshera Cantonment

Peshawar Cantonment

Risalpur Cantonment

Havelian Cantonment

Kala Bagh/Murree Galies Cantonment

Punjab

Attock Cantonment

Sanjwal Cantonment (adjacent to Attock Cantt about 5 KM distance)

Bhawalpur Cantonment

Chaklala Cantonment

Gujranwala Cantonment

Jhelum Cantonment

Kamra Cantonment

Kharian Cantonment

Mangla Cantonment

Multan Cantonment

Murree Hills Cantonment

Okara Cantonment

Rawalpindi Cantonment

Sargodha Cantonment

Shorkot Cantonment (PAF Rafiqui)

Sialkot Cantonment

Taxila Cantonment

Lahore Cantonment

Wah Cantonment

Walton Cantonment (Created out of the southern parts of the original Lahore Cantt.)

Sindh

Clifton Cantonment, Karachi

Faisal Cantonment, Karachi

Hyderabad Cantonment

Karachi Cantonment

Korangi Creek Cantonment, Karachi

Malir Cantonment, Karachi

Manora Cantonment, Karachi

Pano Aqil Cantonment

Total: 43 Cantonment Boards.

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