Balochistan News, Divisions and Real Estate Updates

Quetta | ReNews Pakistan
The Balochistan High Court has directed authorities to reassess Quetta’s proposed Sariab Road flyover and prepare a comprehensive, technically practical design extending from the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) to the PTCL Exchange.

The court found that the proposed 600 metre flyover included in the provincial development programme for financial year 2026,27 would be insufficient to address traffic congestion along the corridor.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Muhammad Najmuddin Mengal reviewed the approved scheme and alternative proposals during proceedings on October 13, considering technical feasibility, costs and environmental implications.

For the section connecting the QDA office and Magsi Chowk towards GSP, the court directed improvements at ground level, including road widening and a suitable T junction.

The proceedings also considered whether alternative flyover designs would require the starting point to extend to Helper Hospital, potentially increasing costs and environmental impacts.

Officials informed the court that asphalt base course work had been completed along 14,500 metres of the 15,140 metre Sariab Service Road, equivalent to approximately 96 per cent. The asphalt wearing course had been laid along 8,500 metres, representing about 56 per cent.

Bridge construction was reported complete, while the stormwater drainage system was 98 per cent finished. Kerbstone and paver installation stood at 33 per cent. Authorities also reported obstacles affecting completion at some locations.

In separate proceedings concerning Joint Road, the court ordered a comprehensive traffic survey by the Balochistan Traffic Engineering Bureau in the presence of representatives from the Advocate General’s Office, Pakistan Railways and the petitioner. The Advocate General was appointed convener of the committee overseeing the exercise.

The court also sought a progress report on the flyover and associated development works.

Quetta | ReNews Pakistan
The Government of Balochistan and the National Accountability Bureau have reported the recovery of approximately 260,000 acres of state land across several districts during 2026, with the reclaimed property valued at an estimated Rs 414.2 billion.

At the same time, the digitisation of land records in Gwadar has entered its final stages as authorities move towards a more transparent and modern system for identifying state property, verifying ownership and detecting conflicting or unauthorized claims.

According to NAB, the recovery operations were carried out under directives from NAB Headquarters with the support of the Balochistan government, Revenue Department and Forest and Wildlife Department, under the guidance of the provincial chief minister.

Official figures show that Gwadar accounted for the largest recovery by area, with approximately 176,000 acres of state land reclaimed. The recovered land in the district has been valued at around Rs 25 billion.

In Quetta, around 47,000 acres were recovered with an estimated value of Rs354 billion. Authorities also reclaimed 15,000 acres in Sherani valued at Rs 29 billion and approximately 17,000 acres in Lasbela worth Rs 2.2 billion.

In Sibi, 2,861 acres of state land valued at Rs2.3 billion were recovered, while 153 acres worth around Rs 50 billion were reclaimed in Hub.

NAB said most of the recovered property belongs to the Forest and Wildlife Department and is being handed back to the department for use in public interest and environment friendly projects.

The campaign followed an initial review of forest land in 2025, which found that formal official transfer records were missing for nearly 2.8 million acres belonging to the Forest Department. The discovery prompted authorities to intensify efforts to identify, protect and recover encroached state property.

According to official figures, more than one million acres of government land were also recovered in Balochistan during 2025, representing assets valued at approximately Rs 1.37 trillion. The additional recovery of around 260,000 acres in 2026 has further expanded the province wide campaign to safeguard public land.

Alongside the recovery operations, authorities are advancing the digitisation of land records in Gwadar. The modernised system is expected to improve the identification of government property, facilitate ownership verification and make it easier to detect overlapping, disputed or unauthorized land claims.

The initiative is also expected to improve transparency in transactions involving undeveloped land, where uncertainty over ownership, boundaries and historical records has frequently created complications.

Recent administrative measures in Gwadar have also focused on accelerating the land settlement and record completion process, with local authorities directing that completed records be transferred to the district administration and outstanding cases resolved more quickly.

However, digitisation of land records will not automatically validate private housing schemes or development projects. Prospective buyers will still need to verify the legal status of individual projects, including No Objection Certificates, approved layouts, precise survey details and the ownership credentials of sellers before making an investment.

NAB has reiterated that its zero tolerance approach towards corruption and illegal occupation of state land will continue, with further operations planned across Balochistan under applicable laws and transparency requirements.