If you are new to the world of real estate and are planning to buy property in Karachi, you may have some queries about the property transfer procedure in the city – for example, how long does it usually take? Well, in order to fast-track the property transfer procedure for buyers and sellers in the bustling metropolis, the Karachi Development Authority, more popularly known by its abbreviation, KDA, has recently launched its Statement Lounge facility in Karachi.
The KDA is the primary real estate authority in Karachi that oversees all the property-related sales and purchases. Until now, the land transfer statements were recorded manually by the authority officials, which involved the risk of anomalies in the records.
Working under the KDA Land Management System, the Statement Lounge was introduced to facilitate those buying and selling properties in Karachi by making the process quick and error-free. According to the leading media outlets, the Statement Lounge is a part of the authority’s one-window facility that will document property transfer records to prevent (and check for) anomalies in the transfer process undertakings.
However, before we discuss the Statement Lounge facility in Karachi and how it is supposed to speed up the KDA’s land transfer process, don’t forget to take a look at our detailed guide on selling and transferring property in Pakistan.
Let’s get started.
What is the Statement Lounge?
The Statement Lounge facility in Karachi will enable both the buyers and owners of a property to record their transfer statements in front of a video camera. It is situated on the ground floor of Civic Centre, which serves as the headquarters of the Government of Karachi. The office of the mayor is also located in this building.
Prior to the establishment of this facility, both parties were required to come to the office of KDA Land Department and recording their statements in which they agreed to the terms of the transfer before an authorized official.
However, the entire process has now been digitized for the convenience of the locals buying and selling real estate in Karachi.
Now, along with recording the statements on camera, the Statement Lounge will also enable KDA to take pictures, thumbprints and signatures of both the buyer and seller during the transfer. Moreover, a KDA assistant director from a particular area will also be present at the scene to authenticate the process.
Address: Ground Floor, Civic Centre, University Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.
How Does the Statement Lounge Work?
Following the establishment of the Statement Lounge by KDA, once the buyer and seller reach an agreement, they are required to submit the property file in the KDA Land Management Department. It is situated on the third floor of Karachi Civic Centre. The concerned branch office will then check and verify the documents before calling both parties to the Statement Lounge.
Once the statements have been recorded electronically and the thumbprints have been taken, the file will be sent to the KDA Land Management Department for final approval. If approved, it will be forwarded to the IT Department of Karachi Development Authority, which will enter the file into its system.
It is pertinent to mention that the IT Department is currently working on digitizing the entire records of the Land Management Department, according to a statement made to the media outlets by Senior IT Director at KDA Kamal Siddiqui. The official said that he hoped the digitization process will be completed before the end of the year.
The next destination of the transfer file will be the Recovery Department, which will generate the pay order or challan before sending the documents back to the KDA Land Department. After the challan is paid, its copy of will remain with the department for transfer record.
Furthermore, in case either of the parties has a disability, an official from the Karachi Development Authority will visit their home to record their statement in person.
As for the Statement Lounge, as many as 30 applicants can record their statements there per day. To make the process even more feasible, the authority has also allocated a separate car parking area for the applicants visiting the recently introduced lounge at Civic Centre, which is one of the most crowded and busiest buildings in Karachi.
Although the facility has just been established, it is expected to streamline and fast-track the property transfer procedure in Karachi.
So, that was all about KDA’s Statement Lounge facility in Karachi. In case you have any queries or want to share your feedback, you can send us your email on blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, make sure to check out our real estate glossary to learn more about common property terms used in Pakistan and become a pro at using industry jargon. In case you have any confusion about the differences between registration and transfer of property, our detailed guide on the topic will surely help you out.
To learn more about the legalities governing the transfer of property in Pakistan and other related procedures, stay connected to Zameen Blog, as we strive to deliver the best solutions to all of your real estate related queries. Also, you can subscribe to our newsletter on the right to receive the latest updates about the property sector in Pakistan.
