The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), in collaboration with the provincial government, has retrieved approximately 260,000 acres of state land valued at Rs414.2 billion from encroachers and land mafia in various parts of Balochistan during the current year.
Land Recovered Across Multiple Districts
The recovered land belongs to the provincial Forest and Wildlife Department and was retrieved in Quetta, Sibi, Sherani, Hub, Lasbela, and Gwadar areas, according to a statement issued by the NAB Headquarters in Islamabad.
Details reveal that 47,000 acres of land worth Rs354 billion were recovered in Quetta, 2,861 acres valued at Rs2.3 billion in Sibi, 15,000 acres worth Rs29 billion in Sherani, and 153 acres worth Rs50 billion in Hub. Similarly, 17,000 acres with a market value of Rs2.2 billion were recovered in Lasbela, and 176,000 acres of land worth Rs25 billion were retrieved in Gwadar.
Largest Land Recovery Operation in Pakistan's History
In addition to these recoveries, the bureau recovered more than one million acres of government land in Balochistan in 2025, amounting to Rs1,370 billion. This is considered one of the largest land recovery operations in the history of Pakistan, the statement said. Maintaining this momentum, operations were further accelerated in 2026.
The NAB Balochistan achieved a major breakthrough in restoring state authority and protecting government resources by recovering state land worth billions of rupees.
Operations Under NAB Directives
These operations were carried out under the directives of NAB Headquarters with the objective of eliminating illegal encroachments, promoting transparent accountability, and ensuring the recovery of looted national wealth. This success was achieved through cooperation between the provincial government, the Revenue Department, and the Forest Department, under the guidance of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.
Initial Inspection Reveals Record Gaps
During the initial inspection of forest land in Balochistan in 2025, it was revealed that there was no formal official record of land transfer for approximately 2.8 million acres of land belonging to the Forest Department. Taking notice of this situation, NAB Balochistan, on the instruction of the bureau’s chief, launched immediate and indiscriminate operations.
Inter-Departmental Cooperation Praised
The bureau stated that the government of Balochistan provided full support in this success, while the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Balochistan and the provincial Forest Department also played a key role. Such achievements would not have been possible without inter-departmental cooperation.
NAB is committed to continuing its zero-tolerance policy against corruption and the land mafia, and illegal occupation of state land will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Furthermore, a modern record system, digitalization, and effective monitoring are being promoted to prevent illegal encroachments in the future, the statement concluded.
