KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the launch of a “blockchain-based digital land record system” to simplify property transfers and establish tamper-proof record keeping across the province.

Presiding over a meeting at the CM House, the chief minister directed the officials to streamline the existing 12-step land transfer process into a single-step digital procedure to reduce delays and enhance transparency.

The system includes a web-based e-transfer mechanism that removes the need for in-person visits to government offices. Biometric verification at Peoples Service Centres will be the only requirement for title transfers.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Senior Member Board of Revenue Baqaullah Unar, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Sukkur IBA Vice Chancellor Asif Shaikh, Secretary IT Noor Ahmad Samo and other senior officials.

Briefing the CM, the chief secretary explained that manual land records, including Village Form-VII-A and Village Form-II, are being rewritten and authenticated. These records are being digitised and secured using blockchain technology to prevent tampering and ensure permanent record integrity.

The digital system will also link land ownership data with Computerised National Identity Cards for verification, helping to prevent fraudulent claims and documentation errors.

A comprehensive digital land register is being created, with survey-wise details for entire dehs. It will also contain records of non-transferable land such as forest land, graveyards, village commons etc.

The initiative includes integration with institutions such as National Database and Registration Authority, the Federal Board of Revenue and banks to allow real-time data verification.

To assess the systems effectiveness, a pilot project has been approved in Deh Matiari and Palijani (District and Taluka Matiari), and Deh Bagerji (District and Taluka Sukkur). Technical support is being provided by IBA Sukkur.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2025