When the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, its assets were divided between India and Pakistan. The partition process was still ongoing when the dispute over the state of Kashmir arose, leading to a war, which resulted in its division between the two countries.
At that time, many properties belonging to the Maharaja of Kashmir and Poonch were located in the territories administered by Pakistan, especially in the Punjab province. These were taken over by the new government of the part of Kashmir annexed to Pakistan.
However, a few years later, due to administrative reasons, the government of Pakistani Kashmir relinquished supervision of these properties in Pakistan and handed them over to the government of Pakistan. The federal government of Pakistan has sold some of these properties over time, but, according to official records, Pakistan still has around 4,200 acres of properties in various cities, which remain idle due to improper utilization. As a result, the government is losing billions of rupees in potential financial benefits.
Officials from Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs indicate that several attempts have been made in the past 75 years to make profitable use of these properties. However, due to their controversial status and the fear of potential protests from the state and people of Kashmir, no definitive steps have been taken.
Bilal Khachi, the administrator overseeing these properties on behalf of the government of Pakistan, told Urdu News that valuable agricultural lands and buildings are located in central areas of cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Sialkot, and Jhelum.
However, due to administrative challenges, these properties have not been properly rented, nor has any construction occurred that could provide commercial benefits to the government. According to Bilal Khachi, properties include “12 bazaars in Lahore, Haveli Dayan Singh in old Lahore, 2,325 acres of agricultural land near Jalu, including eight villages, 906 acres of agricultural land in Sheikhupura, 1,057 acres in Narowal, 458 acres of land near the zero line on the Indian border in Sialkot, 99 shops, and 34 residential units, a 17 marla plot in Wazirabad, over 7 kanal plot in Jhelum, Poonch House Plaza in Rawalpindi Saddar Bazar, 66 houses and land in Gwalmandi, among others.”
Stalled Government Efforts
Khachi also mentioned that many properties are under illegal occupation. Additionally, the properties rented out by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs have been leased for very low rents in the past, and no viable strategy for their construction or better usage has been formulated.
“These properties have been sold in the past, but in 1986, the government at the time banned their sale.”
Since then, no progress has been made to improve their usage. In 2011-12, a plan was drafted, but it never moved forward. Since 2016, no caretaker administrator had been appointed.
“In 2019, the government resumed work on this issue. Six months ago, an administrator was appointed, after which we increased the rents of some properties and devised a plan for geo-fencing. A committee has now been established at the government level, but its first meeting has yet to occur.”
According to him, the rent for these properties under the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs is still significantly below the market rate, and a clear strategy is necessary to address the situation.
Ownership Dispute: Pakistan or Kashmir?
Meanwhile, the government of Pakistani-administered Kashmir and social circles believe that the central government of Pakistan has no right to use these properties or construct them.
Former senior bureaucrat and additional chief secretary of Kashmir, Farhat Ali Mir, told Urdu News that, in principle, the government of Pakistan should return the management and ownership of all these lands and buildings to the government of Kashmir.
“The Government of Pakistan acquired authority over these properties through a 1961 ordinance during the Ayub era. The rationale was that Kashmir’s boundaries ended at the Kohala Bridge near Murree. The issue has been raised with several Pakistani governments, but no one has shown interest.”
Farhat Mir accused Pakistani government members of selling and allotting these properties to benefit personal friends and relatives.
“They also built a housing colony on Kashmir state land in Raiwind, and no plot or house was allotted to any Kashmiri citizen or migrant. The society was not successful either. Conversely, several notices have been issued to vacate the flats of the Government of Kashmir and the Election Commission office in Rawalpindi’s Poonch House.”
Farhat Mir believes that if Pakistan’s federal government is serious about utilizing these properties, it should cancel the Ayub-era ordinances through parliamentary legislation and return their management to the Kashmir government.
Allegations of Illegal Sales
Journalist Athar Masood Wani, who has reported on this issue, said that these properties have also been illegally bought and sold.
However, according to the administrator of the Government of Pakistan, the sale of these properties has been halted since 1986.
Athar Masood Wani told Urdu News that “the last official attempt to transfer Kashmir properties was made during the tenure of former Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, but it did not yield any results.”
The administrator of the Government of Pakistan mentioned that a committee has been formed to address these issues, comprising representatives from various ministries. Its first meeting was scheduled for January 31 this year, but it has not yet occurred.
“There are various plans for the future of these properties, but a final decision will only be made after this committee reviews them.”
Commercial Value of Maharaja Kashmir’s Properties
According to Bilal Khachi, many properties were leased at a monthly rent of Rs 30, which has now increased to Rs 3,000.
“This lease amount was initially set equal to one maund of wheat. We are now trying to align these rents with market rates. In November last year, we raised the rent by Rs 32.5 million.”
Saeedur Rehman, who has been in the property business in Rawalpindi for over 15 years, noted that the price of residential land in Rawalpindi city is around Rs 40 to 45 lakh per marla, while commercial land is priced at Rs 55 to 60 lakh per marla. Based on this, the value of Poonch House in Rawalpindi Sadar and its adjoining land runs into several billion rupees. The commercial and agricultural land in Lahore and other cities has even higher value.
