News Desk: In a landmark crackdown on illegal land occupation, authorities in Balochistan have recovered more than 1.26 million acres of government land worth an estimated Rs1.78 trillion, making it one of the largest state land recovery operations in Pakistan’s history.
Official figures show that over one million acres of public land valued at Rs1.37 trillion were reclaimed during 2025, while an additional 260,000 acres worth Rs414.2 billion were recovered in 2026 across multiple districts, including Quetta, Gwadar, Sibi, Sherani, Hub, and Lasbela.
The large-scale operation was launched after investigations uncovered major irregularities in land records, including the absence of properly maintained ownership and transfer documentation for nearly 2.8 million acres of land belonging to the Forest Department. Following the discovery, authorities initiated an extensive campaign to identify, protect, and recover encroached state property.
Among the districts, Quetta recorded the highest-value recovery, with approximately 47,000 acres of Forest and Wildlife Department land worth Rs354 billion reclaimed from illegal occupation. In Gwadar, authorities recovered around 176,000 acres valued at Rs25 billion, while Sherani saw the recovery of 15,000 acres worth Rs29 billion.
Additional recoveries included 2,861 acres in Sibi valued at Rs2.3 billion, 17,000 acres in Lasbela worth Rs2.2 billion, and 153 acres in Hub valued at Rs500 million.
Officials said the operation was carried out through coordinated efforts of the Government of Balochistan, accountability authorities, the Revenue Department, and the Forest and Wildlife Department. The initiative is aimed at protecting public assets, strengthening land governance, and preventing the illegal occupation of state-owned property.
To ensure long-term protection of government land, authorities are introducing modern land management systems, digital recordkeeping, and enhanced monitoring mechanisms. The digitalization of land records in Gwadar has entered its final phase and is expected to significantly improve transparency, reduce land disputes, and curb future encroachments.
The recovered land is being returned to the Forest and Wildlife Department for environmental conservation, sustainable development projects, and public welfare initiatives. Officials have reaffirmed that operations against land grabbing networks will continue across Balochistan, with additional recoveries expected in the coming months.
The recovery drive is being viewed as a major step toward strengthening state authority, protecting national resources, and ensuring the lawful use of public land throughout the province.
