Land Terminologies – پٹوار

In Pakistan, land ownership and management are crucial aspects of rural life, overseen by local officials known as Patwaris. These village accountants play a vital role in maintaining accurate records of land parcels, documenting ownership details, and collecting land revenue. Each piece of land is identified by unique numbers called Khewat and Khasra numbers, which help in tracking ownership and boundaries within villages. Patwaris also keep records like Jama Bandi, which outline rights and responsibilities related to land use. They use tools like Fard (land ownership extracts) and Shajra Nasab (genealogical records) to verify ownership and inheritance patterns. This system ensures that land transactions and disputes are properly recorded and managed, contributing to the stability and organization of rural communities across Pakistan.

• Patwari: A village accountant responsible for maintaining land records and collecting land revenue.
• Chak: A revenue estate or village.
• Khewat (Khewat Number): A unique number assigned to a landholding or estate owned by an individual or family.
• Khatauni: A record that lists the details of landholdings of individuals in a village.
• Khasra (Khasra Number): A unique number assigned to a particular piece of land within a village.
• Jama Bandi: The record of rights and revenue record for a particular area, detailing ownership and cultivation.
• Girdawari: An agricultural land inspection report that records the details of crops and their cultivation.
• Fard: An extract from the land record, often used to verify land ownership.
• Lal Kitab: A detailed record book that includes maps and descriptions of land holdings.
• Intkaal: Mutation of land, referring to the process of updating land records following a transfer of ownership.
• Roznamcha Waqiati: A daily register maintained by the Patwari, noting occurrences and changes related to land and agriculture.
• Shajra Nasab: A genealogical record showing the lineage and inheritance of land ownership.
• Aks Shajra: A map or plan of a village showing the boundaries and layout of land parcels.
• Acre: A unit of land measurement, commonly used for larger plots.
• Kanal: A unit of land measurement equal to 1/8 of an acre.
• Marla: A unit of land measurement, commonly used in urban and rural settings; 1 Kanal equals 20 Marlas.
• Bigha: A traditional unit of land measurement varying by region, larger than a Kanal.
• Murabba: A square plot of land, typically measuring 25 acres.
• Chakbandi: The consolidation of fragmented landholdings to create larger, more efficient agricultural units.
• Sajra: A map or plan showing the divisions of a village or a revenue estate.
• Revenue Circle: An administrative unit for land revenue collection, comprising several villages or estates.
• Tehsildar: A revenue officer in charge of a Tehsil (sub-district), overseeing the work of Patwaris.

These terms are integral to understanding land management, ownership, and agriculture in Pakistan, particularly within the traditional Patwari system.