Pakistan Area & Land Unit Converter
Convert Kanal, Marla, Acre, Killa, Murabba, Sarsahi, and Square Feet with explicit distinction between Traditional Revenue (272.25 sq ft) and Urban LDA (225 sq ft) standards.
The Structure of Land Measurement in Pakistan
In Pakistan, land records are managed through provincial revenue departments under the West Pakistan Land Revenue Act 1967. Today, provinces have substantially digitized land titles — most notably the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) through its Arazi Record Centers, as well as digital revenue portals in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Balochistan.
Traditional agrarian land records maintained by the village Patwari and inspected by the Girdawar (Qanungo) utilize a sequential hierarchy rooted in historical measurement chains:
- Karam: A traditional measurement length often represented as 5.5 feet in the revenue convention described here.
- Sarsahi: Exactly one square Karam = 5.5 ft × 5.5 ft = 30.25 square feet (3.361 square yards / Gaj).
- Marla (Revenue Reference): 9 Sarsahis = 9 × 30.25 = 272.25 square feet (30.25 Gaj). This is a traditional revenue reference used in land records; urban and private development schemes may use a different Marla size.
- Kanal: Exactly 20 Marlas = 5,445 square feet (605 Gaj).
- Acre (Killa / Ghumaon): 8 Kanals = 160 Marlas = 43,560 square feet (4,840 Gaj). In Punjab, an agricultural acre is commonly referred to as a Killa in many contexts.
- Murabba: Exactly 25 Killas (Acres) = 200 Kanals = 1,089,000 square feet (approx 10.12 hectares). Laid out in the 19th and early 20th centuries across the canal irrigation colonies of Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, and Sahiwal.
One of the greatest sources of property confusion in Pakistan is the dual definition of the Marla. While the official traditional revenue Marla is 272.25 sq ft, urban development authorities like the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad, and private housing developers (e.g., DHA, Bahria Town) adopted an urban Marla of 225 sq ft (15 ft × 15 ft) to facilitate uniform grid layouts.
Therefore, a "1 Kanal" house plot in DHA or Bahria Town measures 4,500 square feet (50 ft × 90 ft), whereas a "1 Kanal" land parcel on a rural revenue Fard measures 5,445 square feet — a difference of 945 square feet! Always clarify whether a seller is quoting standard revenue or urban development authority units.
Pakistan Land Measurement Conversion Tables
| Unit Name | Standard Equivalent (Sq Ft) | Equivalent in Gaj | Equivalent in Sq Metres | Kanals per Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sarsahi | 30.25 sq ft | 3.361 Gaj | 2.8103 m² | 0.00555 Kanal |
| 1 Urban Marla (LDA / DHA) | 225.00 sq ft | 25.000 Gaj | 20.9032 m² | 0.0413 Kanal (Revenue) |
| 1 Standard Revenue Marla | 272.25 sq ft | 30.250 Gaj | 25.2929 m² | 0.0500 Kanal |
| 1 Urban Kanal (LDA 20 × 225) | 4,500.00 sq ft | 500.000 Gaj | 418.0637 m² | 0.8264 Kanal (Revenue) |
| 1 Standard Revenue Kanal | 5,445.00 sq ft | 605.000 Gaj | 505.8571 m² | 1.0000 Kanal |
| 1 Acre / Killa (8 Kanals) | 43,560.00 sq ft | 4,840.000 Gaj | 4,046.8564 m² | 8.0000 Kanals |
| 1 Murabba (25 Killas) | 1,089,000.00 sq ft | 121,000.000 Gaj | 101,171.41 m² | 200.0000 Kanals |
Original Worked Examples for Pakistani Property
Buying a 10-Marla Plot in DHA Phase 6
A homebuyer in Lahore is evaluating a 10-Marla plot in DHA and wants to confirm the exact square footage and dimensions.
Calculation: 10 × 225 = 2,250 sq ft
Typical Plot Dimensions: 35 ft × 65 ft = 2,275 sq ft (approx 10 Marlas)
Result: A 10-Marla urban housing plot equals 2,250 square feet (250 Gaj).
Subdividing a 3-Killa Orchard into Kanals
A kinnow farmer in Sargodha wants to distribute 3 Killas of agricultural land among his heirs.
Calculation: 3 × 8 = 24 Kanals
Total Sq Ft: 24 × 5,445 = 130,680 sq ft
Result: 3 Killas equals 24 Kanals (14,520 Gaj or 1.214 hectares).
Converting a Fard Entry of 5 Kanals 12 Marlas
A buyer at an Arazi Record Center receives a computerized Fard showing ownership of 5 Kanals and 12 Marlas.
12 Marlas = 12 × 272.25 = 3,267 sq ft
Total Area = 27,225 + 3,267 = 30,492 sq ft (0.700 Acre)
Result: 5 Kanals 12 Marlas equals 30,492 square feet.
Converting 2 Murabbas to Acres & Kanals
A textile group evaluates a rural agro-industrial parcel consisting of 2 Murabbas.
Calculation: 2 × 25 = 50 Acres
Kanals: 2 × 200 = 400 Kanals (20.23 Hectares)
Result: 2 Murabbas equals 50 Acres (400 Kanals or 2,178,000 sq ft).
Converting 4 Kanals to Square Metres
A commercial builder in CDA Islamabad sector I-8 converts a 4-Kanal commercial plot to metric units.
Calculation: 4 × 505.857 = 2,023.43 m²
Result: 4 Kanals equals approximately 2,023.4 square metres (0.5 acre).
Converting 5 Urban Marlas to Square Yards (Gaj)
A builder calculating brickwork for a 5-Marla double-story house in Bahria Town Rawalpindi.
Gaj (Square Yards) = 1,125 ÷ 9 = 125 Gaj
Result: 5 urban Marlas equals exactly 125 Gaj (1,125 sq ft).