Land record verification in Pakistan has always been a cumbersome process of physically going to local offices several times and pinching with different sorts of paperwork. But as technology has improved and the law has changed, that process is now more open to public participation. This post will tell you about the steps on how to check land records in Pakistan, updating it with a modernized method plus its importance and recent initiatives for digitalization that have made this whole process simplified.
Table of Contents
Why is it important to Check Land records!
The reason that checking Land Records makes the top of your list…
- Proof of Ownership: Makes sure that the property you deal with is legal and belongs to whom it has been mentioned as the owner.
- Fraud Prevention: Minimizes the cases of land disputes, unofficial encroachments and unscrupulous sales.
- Extra Friction to Transactions: Facilitates property transactions, ensuring land buying or selling/renting is a frictionless process.
- Socio-Economic Equity: Registries can aid in driving out corruption as well as create greater equity and transparency.
How Today Land Record System Works
However, land record management in Pakistan has come a long way during the past decade. Earlier, records of land were manually maintained through local revenue officials like Patwaris. These records documented property boundaries and ownership as well as transactions, often being handwritten registers housed at the local level.
But over time and with the development of technology, Government initiatives towards anti-corruption are helping the land record computerization process. The following are the major components of a contemporary land record system:
All Provincial Digital Portals Every province has a digital portal where anyone can find out the land records in written form.
- Computerized Land Records: The process of converting physical records into a digital format so that they can be accessed via the Internet and we can verify property ownership etc.
- Biometric Verification: Few provinces require biometrics to check whether the records being accessed or updated is authentic and comes from a secured channel.
- Database: Records are stored online; all provinces have centralized land record databases.
How to Check Pakistan Land Records -Step by Step Guide
1. Go to Official Land Records Portal
The Land Record checking official portal in Pakistan is hosted by each province. Main provincial portals links:
- Punjab: Punjab Land Record Authority
- Sindh: Sindh Land Records
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK): KPK Land Record System
- District of Balochistan: The Board of Revenue, anticipates the arrival of the Directorate Office ITC and Taxation (Commandant. Headquarters).
Go to specific portals Choose the portal according to where the property is located.
2. Select the Relevant Option
You will be greeted with Screen Division options of:
- Search by Name
- (Computerized National Identity Card)
- Check with Khasra Number (Property Number)
- Select the appropriate one according to your information.
3. Fill in the Details
- If you go for Search by Name, copy-paste the owner’s full name as it appears in official records.
- So, for CNIC Search enter the NIC number without dashes or spaces.
- This section applies if you know the khasra Number, write it as per the record to get correct input values.
4. Verification
- Other portals may demand some additional steps of verification like receiving the code and entering that in your phone.
- If you are going to visit the service center physically in some province biometrics verification is compulsory.
5. Access the Records
- When the entry is confirmed, you will see a record of land available.
- This includes information such as the name of the owner, area or size [of property], boundaries and earlier transactions related to the property.
6. Download or Print the Record
You may take the print of the land record or can download a copy for your records. In certain provinces, you can also order an official lawyer-certified copy to be used as a legal document.
Current changes in the land record system
1. Digitalization of Records
With the onset of Digitalization, now residents are able to access their land information without making a visit up to the village and go directly at the local Patwari office. It is important to note that some of the provinces like Punjab and Sindh have already been able to digitize a good number of their land records.
2. Land Record Centers
In most of the districts, special offices named asArazi Record Centers have been established. Their services include:
- Ownership Document (Fard) Process
- Correction of land records
- Transfer of property
3. Mobile Applications
In certain provinces, the land records are easily accessible through mobile applications. These apps allow users to:
- Check property details
- Follow up on their applications
- Locate nearby service centers
4. Introduction of GIS Mapping
This will involve the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, for boundary delineation to help mitigate land disputes. This is especially helpful in rural settings where plots of land should be marked and boundaries are typically remained anonymous.
Issues in Land Records Verification
- Limited Digital Records: There has been a lack of digitization in records (especially rural and remote) which are essential to manage health.
- Pro Tips You may encounter technical issues: Online portals sometimes have glitch when you try to open, access or worst the portal would be down.
- No Awareness: Citizens do not know or understand how to access digital records and navigate these online portals efficiently.
- Hurdle due to Language: Some of the portals are not available in languages for people who speak other than English or maybe would like to have this content translated into Urdu.
How to Deal with the Hurdles
- Go to Local Record Centre’s: If online access is a trouble for you, going directly into any Arazi record center could undoubtedly be your sensible choice.
- Get Help: If you still find the process of plowing through red tape agonizing, consider hiring a professional land consultant or lawyer for his/her expertise.
- Join Awareness Programs: In some states, awareness campaigns are held where people can learn to access land-related information online.
The Future of Pakistan Land Record Management A Consensus
The transition of land records into digital form has taken Pakistan toward a more modern and updated system. True digitization of land records is expected to ensure that all information about the property remains transparent and precise, thereby establishing a smoother path for studying title deed disputes. It aimed to establish an accurate and effective system that would be available to every citizen, enabling them in the course of time, without any roadblocks or red-tape issues for better management of their land assets.
In this way, you can verify the property ownership in Pakistan, and that is how easily you reach your land records by following the above steps. Further, you will be able to use these latest technologies the most if remain updated on features and reforms regarding it.
FAQs:
1. Is it free to check land records in Pakistan?
True, in most places, consumers can access land records online for free; however, if they need a certified copy then yes it could involve shelling out some change.
2. If you live in one of those states: what can I do if I find wrong details on my land records?
If you feel that your records are incorrect, please go to the nearest Arazi Record Center or contact the local revenue office.
3. What is the legal standing of online land records?
Online land records are deemed to be legally valid, however, a certified copy may be required for formal transactions.
4. How to search the land records of another province from my current location?
It means you can access all the provincial portals online which provides a convenient way to check records.
5. So how many times are the digital land registers updated and what information do they reflect?
Records are updated, especially after transactions like property transfers or boundary changes.