Buyer's guide ··2 min read
Plot File vs On-Ground Plot — What Gujrat Buyers Should Know
What's the difference between buying a plot file and an on-ground plot in Pakistan? A plain guide for Gujrat buyers on risk, possession and what to ask before you pay.
Walk into any property office in Gujrat and you'll hear two words: file and plot. They sound like the same thing. They aren't, and the difference decides how long you wait and how much risk you carry.
What is a plot file?
A file is a booking or allocation document for a plot that doesn't have a fixed location yet. You pay for "a 5 Marla plot" in a scheme, but there's no plot number, no street and often no ground to stand on. The plot is assigned later, through a balloting process, once the land is ready.
Files are popular because they're cheap to enter and easy to trade. Many people buy them to sell on at a profit. The catch: you're buying a promise, and its value depends on the land being bought, developed and allotted.
What is an on-ground plot?
An on-ground plot is a physical, demarcated plot. It has a plot number, it sits on a specific street in the layout plan, and you can go and stand on it. You know its size, its frontage, what it faces and whether it's on a corner or a park.
File vs on-ground plot, side by side
| Plot file | On-ground plot | |
|---|---|---|
| Location known? | No — assigned later | Yes — plot number and street |
| Can you visit it? | No | Yes |
| Possession | Uncertain | Defined timeline |
| Entry cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Main risk | Delays or non-delivery | Paying more than the market rate |
| Suits | Short-term traders | Families who want to build |
Which one is right for you?
If you want to build a home, an on-ground plot is the safer route. You see exactly what you're buying, you can plan the house around the real frontage and corner, and possession isn't waiting on land that hasn't been bought yet.
If you're trading for a quick margin, files can work, but only with money you can afford to leave tied up for years.
What to ask before you pay
- Can you show me the plot on the ground? Ask to walk to it, or get a live video walk if you're abroad.
- What is the plot number, and where is it on the layout plan? Get it marked on the plan.
- What is the exact size in square feet? A Gujrat Marla can mean 225 or 272 sq ft. See our Marla size guide.
- When is possession, and what's due at possession? Get the full payment schedule in writing.
- Where do I pay? Pay the company account only, never an individual, and get a receipt for every payment.
On-ground plots at Kunjwal City
Kunjwal City on 15 km Sargodha Road, Gujrat sells on-ground plots that you can visit before you book: 5, 7 and 10 Marla residential and 4 Marla commercial. Roads, street-light poles, the main gate and the first houses are already on site (see the progress photos). On on-ground plots, possession is given in 1.5 years, and you pay on easy installments.
Visiting plots in Gujrat?
See Kunjwal City in person or on a live video call.
