This document discusses land reforms in Pakistan and the role of the Federal Land Commission. It provides background on land reform laws since 1959 that placed ceilings on individual land holdings. The objectives of land reforms were to reduce inequality and increase agricultural production. The Federal Land Commission was created in 1973 to oversee implementation of reforms. It allocates resumed land exceeding ceilings to tenants and oversees hundreds of pending court cases. Issues include delays in legal amendments, understaffing of the Commission, and lack of coordination with provincial authorities. Recommendations include finalizing pending bills, resolving court backlogs, and improving the Commission's resources and authority.

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2. NATIONAL MANAGEMENT COLLEGENATIONAL MANAGEMENT COLLEGE
102102NDND
NMCNMC
In Service ExperienceIn Service Experience
(Land Reforms in Pakistan)(Land Reforms in Pakistan)
Asad Mahmood QaziAsad Mahmood Qazi
Ex.C – IB&NHEx.C – IB&NH
Last Assignment: Member (Judicial)Last Assignment: Member (Judicial)
Federal Land Commission, IslamabadFederal Land Commission, Islamabad 2

3. Sequence
Land Reforms (LRs) in Pakistan – Introduction
Objectives of Land Reforms
Evolution of Land Commissions
Creation of Federal Land Commission (FLC)
FLC - Organogram
Functions of FLC
Management and Governing System of LRs
Allotment of Resumed Land to Tenants
Land Reforms Pending Cases with LRs Authorities/HCs
Amendment in LRs Act, 1977
Issues / Recommendations
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4. Land Reforms in Pakistan - Introduction
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5. Land Reforms in Pakistan - Introduction
(Law, Ceiling, Compensation)
Year Law Ceiling On Individual Land
Holding
Compensation
1959 MLR-64
(Repealed under
MLR-115)
500 acres of irrigated land
or 1000 acres of un-
irrigated land or 36000
Produce Index Units (PIUs).
Compensation
was paid to the
landowners @
Rs.5/- Per PIU.
1972 MLR-115
(Protected under the
Constitution)
150 acres irrigated or 300
acres of un-irrigated land or
12000 Produce Index Units.
No compensation.
1977 Act-II of 1977 100 acres irrigated or 200
acres of un-irrigated land or
8000 Produce Index Units.
Compensation
was paid to
landowners @
Rs.30/- per PIU.
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Note: The PIUs per acre are being determined according to assessment circle &
classification of soil of the land i.e. Nehri, Nul, Chahi, Barani etc.

6. Land Reforms - Objectives
o To break-up the imbalanced concentration
of landed wealth in few hands
o To uplift the peasant class, protect their
rights and reduce income disparities
o Increase agriculture production
o Reduce unemployment
o Ensure an effective and progressive
relationship between owners and tenants.
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7. Evolution of Land Commissions
• Ayub Khan’s era - West Pakistan Land
Commission under MLR-64 – Governor of West
Pakistan as its ex-officio Chairman and not more
than five members
• Z.A Bhutto’s Regime: Provincial Land Commissions
under MLR-115 – Chief Minister as Chairman and
not more than three members to be appointed by the
respective C.M 7

8. Creation of Federal Land Commission (FLC)
• FLC – created under Land Reforms (Amendment)
Act, 1973 by inserting paragraph 4A in MLR-
115/72
• Law provides for FLC one Chairman and not more
than 3 Members
• A Federal Minister shall be its Chairman
• Members are appointed by Fed. Govt.
• FLC a judicial body with equal powers vide
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9. Organizational Chart of FLC
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Admin. Officer
Chairman
Member-I
Sr. Member
Member-II
Secretary
Registrar Assistant Legal
Advisor
Finance &
Accounts Officer
Accountant
Provincial Inspection Teams
Inspection
Officers/Readers
Chief Commissioner
Judicial
Body

10.  Coordinate the functioning of Provincial Land
Commissions
 Assist the Federal Government in deciding any
dispute or difference between two or more
Provincial Land Commissions
 Assist the Federal Government in the exercise of
its powers under the law to take cognizance of
land reforms cases and
 (Additional Function) To Supervise
distribution of state and enemy lands owned by
the Provincial Governments
Functions of FLC
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Management and Governing System
Provincial Land Commissions:
Chairman Chief Minister
Chief Land Commissioner Senior Member
Board of Revenue
Land Commissioner Commissioner
Deputy Land Commissioner Addl. Distt. Collector
Assistant Land Commissioner Assistant Commissioner

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Federal Land Commission:
i) Chairman/Federal Minister
ii) Senior Member
iii) Member – II Govt. Servants
v) Member – III
Federal Land Commission is the Final Revisionary
Authority under MLR-115/1972 and Land
Reforms Act, 1977 having vast jurisdiction in LRs
cases
Management and Governing System

13. Allotment of Resumed Land
under Land Reforms
to
Tenants/Landless
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14.  Resumed land – Excess land of the prescribed limits
and surrendered to state by the affected landowners
under MLR-64, MLR-115 and Land Reforms Act,
1977 (Act-II/77)
 Resumed land is granted free of cost to the tenants,
small landowners or landless according to the
provisions of above referred Land Reforms Laws.
Allotment of Resumed Land under LRs
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15. Overview of Resumed Land
Province No of
Declarants
Area
Resumed
Area
Allotted
No. of
Allottees
Area
Under
Litigation
Un-
allotable
Area
Balance
available
for
allotment
Punjab 2961 16,65,521 14,65,386 1,36,609 74,402 24,556 1,01,177
Sindh 1810 11,32,340 10,77,392 60,724 17,393 35,536 2019
Baluchistan 272 5,55,655 3,58,254 16,535 45,195 343 1,51,863
KPK 480 4,11,051 3,26,482 43,600 47,156 21,870 15,543
Total 5523 37,64,567 32,27,514 2,57,468 1,84,146 82,305 2,70,602
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(In acres)
Source: Federal Land Commission

16. Pending Land Reforms Cases with
Provincial Land Reforms Authorities
and
Higher Courts
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17. Pending Land Reforms Cases with Land
Reforms Authorities
Authority Punjab Sindh KPK Balochistan Total
Federal Land
Commission
47 03 15 00 65
Chief Land
Commissioner
231 11 04 00 246
Land
Commissioner
175 17 02 00 194
Deputy Land
Commissioner
86 31 06 02 125
Total 539 62 27 02 630
(565)
Source: Federal/Provincial Land Commissions 17

18. Pending Cases With Higher Courts
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Sr. No. Authority No. of cases
1. Supreme Court of Pakistan 206
2. Lahore High Court 467
3. Sindh High Court 55
4. Peshawar High Court 110
5. Balochistan High Court 01
6. Islamabad High Court 15
Total 964
Source: Federal/Provincial Land Commissions

19. Amendment in Land Reforms
ACT-II/1977
in The Light of
The Judgment of Shariat Appellate
Bench
of Honorable
Supreme Court of Pakistan
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20. Extract of Supreme Court Judgments
Dated 10.8.89 and 14.12.1991
 Religious Waqf/Trust land cannot be resumed
 Inherited land cannot be resumed
 Resumption cannot be made retrospectively
 Compensation of resumed at market rates
 Pipeline cases in which action taken prior to 23.3.1990
are protected
 Article 253 of the Constitution is not repugnant
Source: PLD 1990 SC 99 20

21. Amendment proposed in terms of Article 203D(3)(a) of
the Constitution:
Confirm limit on individual holdings – LRA, 1977
Exempt land acquired through inheritance
Exempt lands of Religious Trust or Islamic Waqf
Payment of compensation of resumed land at market
rates
Utilize the resumed land for public purposes subject to
the approval of Federal Government
Proposed Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill
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22.  Summary before Federal Cabinet on 5.1.2005
 Cabinet sent it to Law Minister
 Consultation with stakeholders be undertaken
 Minister then sent it to FLC for implementation
 FLC held meetings with PLCs accordingly
 FLC redrafted the proposed amendment
 Presently matter lies with Law Division
Proposed Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill
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23.  Position of Chairman FLC is political – law be
amended
 Appointment of Members is not on regular basis –
be regularized
 Shortage of revenue & IT trained staff – may be
provided
 No Wide Area Networking (WAN) – quick access of
data – be arranged through IT Department
Issues and Recommendations
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 Retrenchment of FLC Inspection Teams defeated
the field work – Enhancement of trained staff
 Non-cooperative attitude of Provincial Land
Commissions – improved coordination needed
 Repeated shuffling of FLC from one Ministry
to the other – FLC may be declared a subject
of Cabinet Division permanently
Issues and Recommendations

25.  Delay in the proposed Amendment Bill – Qazalbash
Waqf case – It may be finalized and presented before
the Parliament
 Payable compensation amount of Rs.37,445,633/- to
landlords
 Quick disposal of balance resumed land to the tenants /
landless
 Quick disposal of pending LR cases with LRAs &
Higher Courts
 Audit of Compensation of Rs. 94,073,266 paid to
landlords
Issues and Recommendations
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27.  Sheikh Muhammad Rashid (PPP)
 Ghulam Ishaque Khan (former president)
 Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (former PM)
 Rao Muhammad Hashim Khan (PPP)
 Muhammad Issa Abbasi (PPP)
 Ch. Asad-ur-Rehman (PML-N)
 Pir Syed Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani (PPP)
 Mian Muhammad Zaman (PML-Q)
 Imtiaz Ahmed Sahibzada (former bureaucrat)
 Lt. Gen. (R) Inayat Ollah Khan Niazi (Ex-Army)
 Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jeelani (PPP)
Chairmen FLC – Since 1973
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