DHA Quetta Files, Intimation Letters and Allocated Plots: What Each One Means

People searching for property in DHA Quetta ask about a "file rate", an "affidavit file", an "early bird file" or a "1 kanal plot" as if these were one product at different prices. They are not. They are different stages of the same journey, and what you hold at each stage is different.

The short answer: a file is a claim that has still to be turned into a named allocation; an allocation letter records a property in your name in DHA Quetta's records; possession is the handing over of a marked plot on the ground. This article follows that chain using what DHA Quetta itself publishes.

The chain, in order

1. 1Affidavit file. The starting paper. DHA Quetta's procedures describe verifying it and then issuing an intimation letter against it.
2. 2Intimation letter. Issued against an original affidavit file that carries the purchaser's details. When it is issued, the affidavit file is cancelled.
3. 3Allocation and membership. A property is allocated to a named customer on the basis of the intimation letter, and the customer becomes a member of DHA Quetta.
4. 4Location ballot. Where a category has not yet been given plot locations, a ballot assigns them.
5. 5Possession. A demarcated plot is handed over on the ground.

What an affidavit file is

DHA Quetta has a published procedure called Verification of Affidavit. The file is taken to the Land Directorate with a verification form, the CNICs of seller, buyer and a witness, the property dealer's details where one is involved, and a paid verification challan.

The procedure says that the file "will be checked for necessary details and security features and stamped/signed as verified (in red colour) on reverse side by the authorized officer", and that the serial number and date of the verification are written on the file. If a file turns out to be counterfeit or tampered with, the procedure says the matter is referred to the Legal Directorate in the holder's presence.

That tells a buyer two practical things. A file can be checked by the authority before money changes hands, and a verified file carries a visible mark of that check.

What an intimation letter is

The intimation letter procedure says the letter is issued against an original affidavit file bearing the nominee's or purchaser's details, with a form, a recent photograph and copies of the applicant's and next of kin's CNICs. The officer signs the letter, embosses it, and cancels the affidavit file. From this point the holding is tied to a named person rather than to a paper that can pass from hand to hand.

Allocation, allotment and membership

DHA Quetta's transfer and record procedures, a document produced in May 2024, define allocation as "the process through which a property is allocated to a customer on the basis of an Intimation Letter or any other written instructions from competent authority". The same document says membership is needed alongside it, and that the first membership runs for a fixed term (two years in that document).

DHA Quetta's pages use both "allocation letter" and "allotment letter". We could not find an official explanation of any difference between the two, so ask DHA which document applies to the category you are buying.

The file categories DHA Quetta names

The authority's No Demand Certificate page lists the categories it deals with: Allocation File / A-6, Early Bird File, 5 Marla Marketing File, Public Ballot, Service Benefits and Early Bird Commercial File. Each category has its own list of documents.

Words used in the market, such as "barcode file" or "unsuccessful file", are not defined on DHA Quetta's website. If a seller uses one, ask which of the official categories it is and have that confirmed by DHA.

Ballots

DHA Quetta announces ballots as public notices and publishes a ballot result search where a result is looked up by CNIC. In 2025 it opened applications for Early Bird Zarghoon (Sector A4) and later held a location ballot for customers who had paid their down payment. A location ballot gives a plot its position; until then a customer holds an entitlement without a numbered plot.

Possession

DHA Quetta's 2024 bylaws define possession as "handing over a demarcated plot to the member with the demarcation of four corners". Possession has been given in stages. On 11 September 2026 the authority reported its fourth possession ceremony, covering 936 residential and commercial plots in Sectors A1, A2 and A3. Street-by-street possession lists and the possession application form are on its downloads page.

Possession in one sector says nothing about another. Check the specific sector and street.

Schemes that affect file holders in 2026

DHA Quetta announced a File Adjustment Scheme in September 2026 for certain 5 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal files, with a stated validity of 10 September to 10 October 2026, and regularisation schemes for Sector D 1 kanal file holders earlier in the year. Schemes like these have closing dates and conditions. Read the current notice on DHA Quetta's news page before relying on one.

What this means when you compare prices

• A file and a plot with possession are not the same purchase, so their prices are not comparable like for like.
• Dues still to be paid, such as development charges, belong in the comparison. A No Demand Certificate from DHA shows whether dues are clear.
• A plot's location is only fixed once it has been balloted or allocated.
• This website does not publish file rates. Ask for current, specific figures and check the paper behind them.

NASASI Estate can help you identify what a seller is actually offering and arrange the checks. For the procedure itself, see how a plot is verified and transferred in DHA Quetta. To see what is currently listed, go to plots and files for sale or send an enquiry.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a file and a plot in DHA Quetta?

A file is a claim that has still to be converted into a named allocation and, later, a located plot. A plot with possession is a demarcated piece of land handed over to a member. DHA Quetta's procedures describe the steps in between: verification of the affidavit file, an intimation letter, allocation with membership, a location ballot where needed, and possession.

How can I check that a DHA Quetta affidavit file is genuine?

DHA Quetta publishes a verification procedure. The original file is presented at the Land Directorate with the required form and CNIC copies, and a verified file is stamped and signed in red on the reverse with a serial number and date.

Does this article give DHA Quetta file rates?

No. Rates change and depend on the category, size and dues outstanding. Ask for current figures for the specific file or plot.

Where do I check a DHA Quetta ballot result?

On DHA Quetta's own website, using the ballot result search with your CNIC number.

Sources

• DHA Quetta, Verification of Affidavit (undated procedure page).
• DHA Quetta, Issue of Intimation Letter (undated procedure page).
• DHA Quetta, Transfer and Record Directorate procedures and the procedures document linked from that page (the document carries no date; the file was produced in May 2024).
• DHA Quetta, No Demand Certificate (undated procedure page).
• DHA Quetta, ballot result search and downloads, including the Bylaws and Regulations 2024.
• DHA Quetta news: possession ceremony of Sectors A1, A2 and A3, 11 September 2026; File Adjustment Scheme 2026, 9 September 2026; Early Bird Zarghoon location ballot, 10 October 2025.