Karachi land corruption: Over 41,000 acres sold illegally in 12 years

Karachi, Pakistan's megacity, is an unfortunate urban hub that has seemingly been plundered by nearly every government department within its reach.

“Over my journalism career spanning more than 40 years, I have uncovered countless investigative stories and shocking corruption scandals involving Karachi's exploitation. Yet, each new tale of corruption, kickbacks, and abuse of power continues to astonish me. Brace yourself, as today on OMR, I am revealing something that may be hard for you to believe: in the past 12 years, the “system” – the organized network of corruption in Sindh – has devoured 41,000 acres of Karachi’s land through fake allotments and illegal regularizations,” Kamran Khan said during a vlog.

The revelations come at a critical juncture, as Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, has vowed to eradicate the entrenched corruption network.

The revelations point to rampant collusion between politicians, bureaucrats, and land mafias, even in the face of legal restrictions. Despite a 2012 Supreme Court ban on land allotments and revenue record alterations, Karachi’s land grabbers continued their illegal activities.

“Between 2006 and 2012, over 17,000 acres of public land were sold for a fraction of their value. The Supreme Court had no choice but to intervene. Without that ban, the land mafias might have sold off entire neighborhoods,” Kamran said, explaining the origin of the ban.

For the first time in decades, Pakistan’s military leadership is taking a hands-on approach to dismantling Karachi’s entrenched corruption network. COAS Munir has pledged to reform the system, a promise he reiterated during two recent meetings with Karachi’s business community.

One business leader present at the meetings shared, “General Munir listened patiently as we laid out our concerns about the corruption. He assured us that the system will be dismantled through the Sindh government.”

Under General Munir’s orders, significant action is already underway. Three deputy commissioners, the director of the Anti-Encroachment Force, and other senior officials have been removed from their posts. The Sindh Board of Revenue has initiated investigations into 421 cases of illegal land allotments and regularizations.

“This crackdown is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Syed Afzal Hameed, senior vice president of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD). “It gives us hope that Karachi’s public lands will finally be protected.”

A turning point?

The military’s intervention comes after decades of unchecked corruption, dating back to the 1990s. During that period, thousands of acres of land were illegally allotted to influential figures at rock-bottom prices. “From 1991 to 1996 alone, over 30,000 acres of land were handed over to politicians, builders, and other powerful individuals for as little as 1 to 5 percent of its actual value.”

This time, however, the system faces unprecedented pressure. “For years, Karachi’s residents felt helpless against this mafia,” said one senior bureaucrat on the condition of anonymity. “Now, with the military’s backing, there’s real momentum to dismantle this network.”

As Karachi grapples with the fallout from these revelations, citizens hope the military’s crackdown will signal a new era of accountability in the city. “If we fail to seize this moment,” said Hameed, “the land mafias will return stronger than ever.”