Katchi Abadis and Regularisation in Pakistan
Reviewed by the Commoner Law editorial team. Sources: pakistancode.gov.pk, Punjab/Sindh/KP/Balochistan provincial codes, Supreme Court of Pakistan, FBR, EOBI, SBP, NEPRA, OGRA, PMDC, FIA, and provincial Healthcare Commissions. Provincial variations cite Punjab/Sindh/KP/Balochistan Acts and ICT-specific ordinances. Written in plain English with everyday Urdu legal terms (FIR, qabza, khula, NTN, CNIC) for a general audience — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Pakistan has hundreds of katchi abadis (informal settlements) — areas where families have lived for decades on what is technically government or katcha land, with no formal title. Each province has a regularisation regime that lets eligible residents convert occupation into a 99-year lease in exchange for a notified development charge.
- Cut-off dates. Settlements established before the cut-off in your province qualify. Settlements after the cut-off are technically encroachments — though some have been brought under later cut-off extensions.
- Survey and notification. The katchi abadi must be surveyed and notified by the relevant Directorate / Authority (PKAA Punjab, SKAA Sindh, etc.) before regularisation begins.
- Lease document. The eligible resident pays the notified charge (heavily subsidised) and receives a 99-year leasehold registered under the Registration Act. This converts informal possession to formal title.
- Beneficiary checks. Each plot is allotted on the basis of CNIC, family size, and proof of residence. Multiple plots in the same name are not permitted.
The downside: regularisation has been slow. Hundreds of notified abadis still have residents waiting years for lease finalisation. Meanwhile, demolitions of unnotified settlements continue periodically — Karachi's anti-encroachment drives have been particularly aggressive.
When does it apply?
- You live in an informal settlement on land that may be government-owned (e.g., railway land, irrigation department land, evacuee property).
- Your settlement is notified as a katchi abadi by the provincial directorate.
- You and your family meet the residence cut-off date for your province.
What to do to regularise your katchi abadi plot
- Check whether your area is notified at the Punjab Katchi Abadis Authority (PKAA), Sindh Katchi Abadis Authority (SKAA), KP Department of Local Government, or Balochistan equivalents.
- Gather residence proof: utility bills, voter list entries, Union Council certificate, school records — anything dated before the cut-off.
- Apply for the lease with CNIC of all family members, residence proof, and the survey number issued during the abadi survey.
- If the abadi is not notified, file a petition for notification through the Council member or directly to the Authority.
- Contest demolitions through the High Court — most demolitions of long-standing settlements have been stayed pending due process.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't sell your katchi abadi possession to a third party before regularisation. Sales of unregularised possession are not registrable, and the "buyer" has no enforceable rights.
- Don't ignore notice of demolition. File a writ petition immediately — courts have stayed many drives based on lack of due process or the area being eligible for regularisation.
- Don't pay middlemen for fast-track regularisation. The application is direct and the schedule of fees is public.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cut-off date for katchi abadi regularisation?
Varies by province: Punjab is 23 March 1985 (extended in some cases); Sindh has had 1985, 1997, and 2017 extensions; KP and Balochistan have their own dates. Settlements established before the cut-off can be regularised on payment of the notified charge.
What if my abadi is not yet notified?
File a petition with the provincial Katchi Abadis Authority for notification. NGOs like Urban Resource Centre (Karachi) and the Awami Workers Party assist with collective applications. Notification triggers the survey and regularisation process.
Are anti-encroachment demolitions legal?
Only with proper notice and only against unnotified or post-cut-off settlements. Long-standing settlements with residence proof have been protected by High Courts. File a writ petition with documentary evidence to contest a demolition.
When does katchi abadis and regularisation apply?
You live in an informal settlement on land that may be government-owned (e.g., railway land, irrigation department land, evacuee property).Your settlement is notified as a katchi abadi by the provincial directorate.You and your family meet the residence cut-off date for your province.
I've lived on the same plot for 30 years — can I get title in Pakistan?
Check whether your area is notified at the Punjab Katchi Abadis Authority (PKAA), Sindh Katchi Abadis Authority (SKAA), KP Department of Local Government, or Balochistan equivalents.Gather residence proof: utility bills, voter list entries, Union Council certificate, school records — anything dated before the cut-off.Apply for the lease with CNIC of all family members, residence proof, and the survey number issued during the abadi survey.If the abadi is not notified, file a petition for notification through the Council member or directly to the Authority.Contest demolitions through the High Co...
What mistakes should I avoid with katchi abadis and regularisation?
Don't sell your katchi abadi possession to a third party before regularisation. Sales of unregularised possession are not registrable, and the "buyer" has no enforceable rights.Don't ignore notice of demolition. File a writ petition immediately — courts have stayed many drives based on lack of due process or the area being eligible for regularisation.Don't pay middlemen for fast-track regularisation. The application is direct and the schedule of fees is public.