Pakistan Railways Reclaims Rs1.42bn Land in Karachi Operation
Pakistan Railways has reclaimed valuable state land in Karachi worth an estimated Rs1.42 billion during a major anti-encroachment operation, officials said on Sunday. The action was carried out along the Karachi Circular Railway corridor, an area considered critical for future urban transport planning and public-sector infrastructure protection.
According to railway officials, the recovered land measures around 2.72 acres and is located near Deh Dozan, Dow Hospital and behind King Classic Apartments. Authorities said the property forms part of the legally designated Karachi Circular Railway alignment and had been under alleged illegal occupation.
The operation was conducted on the special direction of the railway administration and under the supervision of Railway Police officials. During the action, 12 people were taken into custody as authorities moved to regain physical possession of the land and prevent further construction or commercial use.
A Pakistan Railways spokesperson said the reclaimed property belongs to the national railway network and that cases have been registered against the detained individuals. Officials maintained that illegal occupation of public land would not be tolerated, especially where encroachments affect strategic infrastructure corridors.
The land had allegedly been used for an unauthorised private project identified by officials as Sheikhani Sky Towers. Railway records confirmed that the site falls within the Karachi Circular Railway corridor, raising concerns that unchecked occupation could have complicated future restoration or expansion work on the transport route.
The action followed legal developments in case number 108/2026 after a court did not extend a status quo order on May 25, 2026. Following that development, Pakistan Railways moved ahead in coordination with the Railway Police and district administration to recover the property through an enforcement operation.
Karachi has long faced pressure from illegal construction, disputed land claims and encroachments on public assets. Railway land has been particularly vulnerable because of its high commercial value, central locations and links to dormant or underused transport corridors across the city.
The recovery is being described by officials as a significant success in the broader campaign against land mafia networks. For Pakistan, reclaiming such assets is not only a legal matter but also a policy issue, as public land is central to future transport, housing, commercial regulation and urban planning.
Authorities said anti-encroachment operations on railway-owned land would continue across the country. The latest Karachi action is expected to strengthen official efforts to protect national assets, restore administrative control and keep key infrastructure corridors available for future public use.