The real estate market in Pakistan has its own jargon that every buyer, seller, investor, and real estate dealer should know. From buying your first plot to investing in housing societies or dealing with agricultural land records, the Pakistan Real Estate Glossary will assist you in making well-informed decisions and sidestepping expensive errors.
This guide will explain the most frequently used real estate terms in Pakistan in simple terms. Whether you’re buying or selling real estate, or just looking, this article is a useful real estate dictionary for you.
Understanding Property Terminology Matters
Before buying any property, you should be familiar with the legal and technical terminology that is found in property documents. There are so many conflicts because buyers are not well aware of the property terminology in Pakistan with meanings.
By understanding the property terminology, buyers can ensure they are handling accurate property records, property measurements, legal documents, and clear transactions. This is a guide to the most important Property Terms which buyers in Pakistan must know.
The following are some common terms used for measuring land in Pakistan:
MARLA
One of the more frequently used units of land measurement in Pakistan is a MARLA. One marla of a housing society in most urban areas is around 225 square feet, although it could differ according to the area and the developer.
The most popular plot sizes are 3 marla, 5 marla, 10 marla, and 1 kanal. It is crucial to understand the size of a marla before comparing the prices of properties.
KANAL
KANAL is a bigger unit of measurement of land in Pakistan. One kanal is equal to 20 marlas. Lands of luxury residential properties, farmhouses and agricultural lands are often measured in kanals. Knowing the marlas to kanals ratio is essential in the Pakistan Real Estate Glossary.
BIGHA
BIGHA is a traditional unit of land measurement mainly used in rural and agricultural areas. The size of a bigha is different in different areas.
Always check the actual size of a BIGHA from the local land revenue records when buying land for agricultural purposes.
Important Land Revenue Record Terms
KHASRA
A khasra number is a unique identification number given to a particular land in revenue records. The khasra assists the government in the tracking of land ownership and boundaries and land usage. It is always important for buyers to check the KHASRA number before buying land.
KHEWAT NUMBER
A KHEWAT NUMBER is used to provide information about ownership on land revenue records. It holds details of the legal proprietors of a particular property.
To verify the ownership of agricultural land, it is important to conduct a review of the agricultural land records by checking the KHEWAT NUMBER.
KHATUNI
KHATUNI is a record that provides identification of farmers or land users of agricultural land. This record is used to establish land use and cultivation. It is important to understand KHATUNI when you are buying rural property.
JAMABANDI
One of the most significant land revenue documents of Pakistan is JAMABANDI. It provides information on land ownership, cultivation rights, land size and revenue requirements.
Investors should check the JAMABANDI record before purchasing agricultural land, to ensure that there are no disputes of ownership.
GARDAVARI
GARDAVARI is a record of inspections carried out during a specific season by the land revenue authorities. It is used to record data on crops, cultivation status and land use. The GARDAVARI report is often used in agricultural land transactions and financing.
PATWARI
A PATWARI is a government official who maintains land records and income records in a specific area. Records, like khasra, jamabandi, and gardavari, are maintained by the patwari. A Buyer may require the assistance of a PATWARI to check the ownership records of property.
MOZA
A MOZA is a village of revenue or a known area serviced by the revenue department. Land records are generally kept in Pakistan based on the MOZA.
PARTAL
PARTAL is the process of physical verification and inspection of land boundaries. A PARTAL is commonly requested by a potential buyer to verify the size of the property with the official records.
SHAJRA
A SHAJRA is a formal village map that displays land properties, property lines, roads and plots. Land verification and dispute resolution processes often involve using the SHAJRA map.
SARSAHI
The SARSAHI is the traditional system of measurement and boundary verification in rural land administration. Knowing about SARSAHI can ensure that land size is verified with land transactions in agriculture.
Possession Letter
A possession letter is a document issued by the housing society or developer stating the buyer actually received the property.
A possession letter is typically issued when the owner is allowed to start construction, depending on the society’s regulations. When buyers have finished payments, they should make sure to get the official possession letter.
What is Allotment Letter Pakistan Property?
An allotment letter is an official letter issued by the housing society stating that the plot or property has been allotted for the specific buyer. It includes information like the plot number, location, size and ownership.
An allotment letter is typically provided before possession, such as a letter showing ownership rights in the society.
Registry and Intiqal in Pakistan
It is important to know the meaning of registry and intiqal in Pakistan for legal transfer of ownership. The process of registering a property transaction with the government registrar is called registry. It gives legal validity to the sale.
Intiqal is the mutation process where ownership is updated in government revenue records after a sale, inheritance or transfer. If you want to be sure of ownership, both intiqal and the registry should be filled out properly.
Leasehold vs Freehold Property
Leasehold or freehold property is one of the most frequently asked questions by buyers.
Freehold Property
A freehold property gives the buyer full control over the property. The owner is entitled to sell, transfer and inherit the property as per applicable law and can also develop the property as applicable law, subject to the owner’s own discretion. In most of the residential societies, the land is mostly sold as Freehold.
Leasehold Property
A leasehold property is a property owned for a term indicated by a government authority or organisation. Use rights but not permanent ownership of the land. It is important to know the difference between leasehold and freehold property before investing.
Plot File Ownership Versus Plot File
A plot file is a future allocation right in a housing project. It is not always the same plot that has been physically identified when a parcel is purchased. Before the balloting, files are usually traded in the development of housing schemes.
Actual ownership is when a plot has been allocated and is registered in the owner’s name.A plot file versus plot ownership: ownership is more secure as the location and legal rights are clearly defined.
Conclusion
The understanding of the Pakistan Real Estate Glossary is very crucial for buyers, sellers, and investors of the property. From reading a possession letter to understanding what an allotment letter in Pakistan property is, or comparing leasehold vs freehold, to checking out plot file vs plot ownership, understanding these terms can safeguard your investment.
This is an extensive real estate guide which includes property terms in Pakistan with meaning, land measurement units MARLA, KANAL, and BIGHA, and revenue record terms such as KHASRA, KHATUNI, KHEWAT NUMBER, JAMABANDI, SHAJRA, and PATWARI. Through this real estate dictionary, buyers can navigate the real estate market in Pakistan with confidence and clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The legal registration of a property transaction with the government is called Registry and the process of changing ownership records in the revenue department is called Intiqal. Both are important when establishing ownership of property.
An allotment letter is a formal document that is given by a housing society or housing developer to the allottee to say that they have been allocated a plot or property. It includes information like ownership, location, size and plot number.
A plot file is the right to get a plot within a housing scheme in future, while plot ownership denotes the official allocation and ownership of a plot. The ownership of land affords greater legal security.
Knowing property terms assists buyers in checking ownership records, comprehending legal paperwork, preventing fraud, and making wise investments. Terms like Khasra, Jamabandi, Khewat Number, Possession Letter, etc. can help in a smooth transaction of properties.
