Out of all the terms used within Pakistan’s system of land records, the term Khasra is particularly vital. Said to have been borrowed from conventional land survey practices, Khasra refers to the number that is given to a particular plot of earth in a village or an area. These involve land ownership records; details of cultivation of the land; and records of the revenues that the grantor generates. It is crucial for the land owners, farmers, and everyone who has to do with property issues in Pakistan to understand the various aspects of Khasra.
Here in this particular article, let’s understand all the details relating to the Khasra system, its background, the present day, other recent digitization, and its impact on the government of Pakistan.
Table of Contents
What Are Khasra Details?
It is about the data with respect to a particular Khasra – number of a parcel of land, which signifies that Khasra details consist of details of a particular plot of the land that is designated with the Khasra number This includes:
- Location of the land
- Ownership details
- Size and boundaries
- The nature of the site (i.e. whether it is an agricultural, residential, or a commercial area).
- Financial transaction and remunerations report and returns
Khasra system is important in rural areas where its use forms the basis of land ownership and revenue generation.
The Khasra is a record that is used to divide and allocate particular lands to community Different forms of khasra exist, and the common Khasra system of record comprises the following elements:
- Khasra Number Assignment: Every piece of land within a village is provided a Khasra number and it is maintained in the record of revenue in the village.
- Record Maintenance: These records are maintained by the Patwari, the village-level revenue officer, in registers known as the Khasra Girdawari.
- Usage Records: Khasra details contain information related to land use, cropping, features, and changes in ownership.
- Verification of Ownership: Khasra record is useful to both the buyers and sellers in determine the ownership and extent of parcel before engaging in business transactions.
Exploring the Past of Khasra System
Land revenue during the Mughal Kingdom: After the formation of the Mughal Kingdom the implements known as Khasra were established in order to systematically collect the land revenue system during the British colonial rule. They were a means of getting a check and balance to keep the record of land as detailed as possible, especially in the agricultural provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, etc.
Role of Khasra Details in Today’s Administration
In today’s Pakistan, Khasra details remain vital for:
- Confirmation of Property Ownership
- Both buyers and sellers rely on Khasra registers to help them exclude instances of fraud or disputes in selling or buying property.
- Revenue Collection
- Khasra records can be used to determine the right amount of land revenue and taxes from the authorities.
Legal Disputes Resolution
- Khasra records are considered the official records by the courts related to any property dispute.
- Urban and Rural Planning
- These records are important to governments for the purpose of development of infrastructure and zoning.
- Incorporating Khasra Details with reference to Digital India.
Pakistani government in the last decade has initiated outstanding structural changes to improve the land record modernization program. Computerization of records has had a dramatic shift on how details on Khasra are documented and retrieved.
Major characteristics of Khasra Record Digitalization
- Online Access
Currently some of the platforms include Punjab Land Record Authority, a web portal and mobile applications where users can get the Khasra detail online.
- Transparency
Digital records are free from manipulations and falsifications hence providing the best data.
- Ease of Use
Farmers and landowners are actually able to check their records through this site rather than wasting a lot of time and money going to the revenue offices.
- GIS compatibility
There is a mix-up of khasra records with satellite data to enhance the accuracy of provenance of map GIS.
How to verify Khasra details Online
If you want to check your Khasra details online, follow these steps:
- Go to the web page of the land record of the province to which you belong, for instance, Punjab Land Records Authority.
- You may need to feed into the system your Khasra number, owner’s name, or any other detail that may be compulsory.
- Also, read and download the necessary information here.
Popular Platforms
- Punjab: The Government of Punjab has established an online portal for this purpose which is the Punjab Land Records Authority You can find this link on the Punjabi page www.punjab-zameen.gov.pk
- Sindh: Sindh Board of Revenue
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: KP Revenue Authority
Recent Reforms and Challenges
Reforms
- Automation of Revenue Offices: For better records management of Khasra s new digital systems are being provided to the revenue offices.
- Mobile Applications: There are many apps today like Arazi Record Service that can be used to conveniently allow users to access the records of the land.
- Blockchain Technology: The future development strategy is associated with the integration of the blockchain for more reliable identification of specific products.
Challenges
- Technical Issues: Most rural region face connectivity issues; hence they do not access most of online services.
- Awareness Gap: Most of the landowners; and the community are most likely not exposed to digital platforms.
- Corruption: However, due to manual records handling that has never been fully eradicated, fraud and disputes were recorded.
Conclusion
This is important so that anyone who has business with property in Pakistan needs to understand the Khasra details. The usual systems have proved efficient but have been replaced by ultra-modern methods of digitization thus making the records of land more open to the public. However, problems persist in relation to raising the public awareness of and demand for these services.
The land governance system in Pakistan can aspire for further enhancements with the help of embracing the latest technologies and reforms to help out the land owners, farmers, and policymakers. For now, make sure that you comprehend your Khasra part and that it’s accurate to your property, then you are on the right track toward the protection of your property.
FAQs:
Q1: How to know that which Khasra number is belong to you?
You can also get it from your land registration papers or from the local Patwari center.
Q2: Is it possible to verify Khasra detail?
Indeed, all the provinces of Pakistan have informational web-based portals where Khasra records can be viewed conveniently now.
Q3: This is the reason; how much reliable are digital Khasra records?
Yes, digital records are more accurate and secure from tampering and fraudulent compared to paper-based records.
Q4: What is the purpose of Patwari regarding record keeping of the Khasra records?
The Patwari updates the Khasra records in terms of ownership of land, its use, and cropping pattern.