Abdullah Khan: The Board of Revenue Act 2015 marked a major step toward modernizing land administration in Balochistan, a province where handwritten records and outdated maps have long guided land ownership and dispute resolution. The Act empowered the Board of Revenue to digitize land records, restructure district revenue offices, and implement uniform land administration procedures similar to those in Punjab and Sindh. The goal was clear: transparency. A properly implemented digital system can reduce double allotments, prevent tampering, and provide faster access for citizens seeking mutations, ownership verification, or land-related services.
However, modernization faces serious hurdles. Many areas were never properly surveyed, and revenue maps in districts like Panjgur and Kharan remain outdated, forcing officials to rely on rough sketches. Without updated surveys, digitization risks transferring flawed records into new software, a problem highlighted by Gwadar’s Beijing Road disputes, where multiple re-surveys were needed to correct digital entries.
Logistical constraints add to the challenge. Balochistan’s vast terrain, limited staff, and low public awareness make field verification difficult. Successful digitization requires ground teams, updated satellite imagery, and coordination with the Survey of Pakistan. Without these, digital modernization risks being only superficial.
Cultural factors also complicate implementation. Landholding in many areas relies on communal grazing rights, tribal arrangements, and unwritten local agreements. A system recognizing only formal titles could exclude communities whose land rights exist only in practice, creating digital displacement instead of inclusive modernization.
Despite these challenges, the Board of Revenue Act is a vital step toward creating a modern and transparent land administration system in Balochistan. By combining updated surveys, community consultation, and recognition of customary land rights, the province can build a system that improves governance, strengthens public trust, and ensures fair land management, laying a foundation for sustainable administrative reform.
