The Kashmir State Properties, spread across several cities in Pakistan, have a significant historical and financial footprint. These properties were originally under the administration of the Jammu and Kashmir State and are now managed by the Administrator of Kashmir State Property under the Pakistan’s Kashmir Property Ordinance of 1961.
The aim of this ordinance is to ensure proper management of these properties until a final settlement regarding the State of Jammu and Kashmir is reached. Despite this, many properties have either been sold or remain under nominal rents. Below is a detailed account of these properties.
Major Kashmir State Properties in Lahore
- Haveli Dyal Singh: Once spanning 55 kanals, 6 marlas, and 150 square feet, a significant portion of this estate—32 kanals, 10 marlas, and 203 square feet—was sold to unknown individuals in 1980 and 1981. Today, only 22 kanals, 17 marlas, and 128 square feet remain.
- Other Lahore Properties:
- Lunda Bazaar, Loha Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Changar Mohalla, Thariyan, Jhuggiyan, Sard Chah Bagh, Katir, Ahata Ghulam Bibi, Ahata Mian Sultan, Ahata Kripa Ram, and Sarai Mian Sultan once covered 289 kanals, 5 marlas, and 200 square feet. After sales in the early 1960s, 256 kanals, 8 marlas, and 7 square feet remain.
- Naulakha Goods Transport: The total area of 1 kanal, 12 marlas, and 221 square feet was completely sold in 1965.
- Kashmir House on Kashmir Road: Once comprising 100 kanals, 12 marlas, and 13 feet, this property has been sold off entirely.
- A-10 Kashmir Road: Originally 6 kanals and 12 marlas, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) acquired 2 kanals, 3 marlas, and 53 square feet, leaving 4 kanals, 8 marlas, and 172 square feet.
The Fate of Poonch House Lahore
The grand Poonch House in Lahore, once measuring 212 kanals, saw 36 kanals sold in 1965, leaving no property today. Similarly, Poonch House Construction Scheme Area, measuring 174 kanals, 11 marlas, and 194 square feet, was entirely sold in 1992, erasing its existence from Kashmir’s property registry.
Kashmir State Properties in Gujranwala and Sialkot
- Forest Rest House Wazirabad: Out of its 5 kanals and 13 marlas, 4 kanals and 16 marlas were sold, leaving 17 marlas.
- Sarai Maharaja Sialkot: This 19-kanal, 1-marla property remains intact and unsold. However, Bungalow No. 13 on Hospital Road, Sialkot, covering 1.87 acres, was handed over to the Pakistan Army.
Jhelum and Rawalpindi Estates
- Forest Rest House Jhelum: Of its original 17 kanals and 12 marlas, 13 kanals and 3 marlas were sold, leaving 4 kanals, 19 marlas, and 47 square feet.
- Forest House Shadab Road Jhelum: Originally spanning 43 kanals and 11 marlas, sales left only 4 kanals, 18 marlas, and 47 square feet.
- Poonch House Rawalpindi: This 23-kanal, 11-marla property remains intact, alongside the 10-kanal Sarai Khurd and Kalan Rawalpindi, currently occupied by 83 tenants.
Disappearing Properties in Rawalpindi and Beyond
Several key properties in Rawalpindi, such as the Pindi Hazara Transport Company and the Sarai Ganda Singh, have been entirely sold. Meanwhile, the Raja Bazaar Rawalpindi property, which once hosted 17 shops over 7 kanals and 162 square feet, was also sold in 1962. A property in Azad Pattan measuring 16 kanals and 12 marlas was lost to erosion by the Jhelum River.
Jammu Kashmir State Properties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kashmir State once owned a 15-kanal property known as Poonch House Mardan, which was sold in 1965. As of today, no Kashmir State Property remains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Agricultural Land Under Kashmir State Property
- Sultanpur Village in Lahore: Of the original 111 acres, 234 kanals and 14 marlas were acquired for the BRB Canal and Railway Line, leaving just over 12 acres.
- Purab Village, Tehsil Ferozewala, Sheikhupura: Out of 1259 acres, 353 acres and 9 marlas were sold in 1981, leaving 906 acres.
- Janghu Chak Village, Sheikhupura: A substantial 1056 acres of land remain intact.
Financials and Administration
The revenue of the Administrator of Kashmir State Property in Lahore during the fiscal year 2004-05 was approximately 60 million rupees, with 30 million rupees documented as expenses. These properties have largely been rented out for nominal amounts. The Administrator of Kashmir Property Ordinance 1961 aims to ensure the proper management of these assets until a resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is reached.
The historical and financial significance of Kashmir State Properties in Pakistan is immense, but over the decades, a considerable portion of these assets has been sold or lost, leaving only remnants of the original holdings. The nominal rents and gradual erosion of property ownership highlight the challenges in preserving these assets, making the Administrator of Kashmir State Property’s role ever more crucial.
