Guide
How MDA Ballots Work: Applications, Instalments and Refunds
By Maham Imtiaz
Real Estate AnalystVerified author
10 min read
The Malir Development Authority allots most of its plots by ballot. When it opens a scheme, hundreds of thousands of people buy forms, deposit booking money and wait for a computerised draw that only a small share will win. The 2019 Taiser Town ballot drew about 170,000 applications for 20,000 plots. Winning is only the start: the winner then owes instalments and development charges for years, and losing means waiting for a refund.
A ballot is the first link in a plot's title chain. Our guide on how to verify property in Karachi explains that every later transfer depends on that original allotment being genuine, and in MDA's schemes the ballot result and allotment letter are where that chain starts.
This guide explains how an MDA ballot works from form to allotment, what applicants pay and get back, what has happened in past ballots, what audits found about unpaid instalments, and how to avoid the fake ballot offers that follow every launch.
How an MDA ballot works, step by step
| Stage | What happens | What the applicant pays or receives |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement | MDA advertises the scheme, plot categories and dates | Nothing |
| Form | Forms sold through a designated bank, or filled online | Non-refundable processing fee |
| Booking | Applicant deposits a refundable booking amount for one category | Booking amount by pay order |
| Eligibility | One form per category; earlier successful applicants excluded | Copy of CNIC |
| Ballot | Computerised draw at a public ceremony | Nothing |
| Results | Published online, searchable by CNIC and category | Result |
| Successful | Allotment and payment schedule issued | Instalments and development charges |
| Unsuccessful | Booking amount refunded | Refund by pay order, minus bank charges |
| Possession | After all dues are cleared | Possession order |
What applicants paid in each ballot
| Ballot | Form fee | Booking or initial deposit | Plot price or charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006, first and second phases | Rs500, non-refundable | Rs15,500 per plot, including the form | 80 sq yd at Rs500 per sq yd; 120 sq yd for Rs120,000 |
| 2007, third phase | Rs1,000, non-refundable | Rs31,000 (240 sq yd) or Rs51,000 (400 sq yd) | Rs528,000 (240 sq yd) or Rs1.2 million (400 sq yd), payable over three years |
| 2019 relaunch | Rs1,000 (80 and 120 sq yd) or Rs2,000 (240 and 400 sq yd), non-refundable | Rs9,000, Rs15,000, Rs30,000 or Rs50,000 by plot size, refundable | Development charges of Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 per sq yd, on top of the plot price |
In 2019, forms were sold through Silk Bank branches and online. Unsuccessful applicants were told their booking amount would be returned by pay order, minus Rs100 and federal excise duty on bank charges. Applicants successful in an earlier Taiser Town ballot were not eligible, and anyone winning in more than one category had to choose one.
Past MDA ballots in numbers
| Ballot | Plots | Applications | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First phase, 2006 | 34,762 plots of 80 sq yd | About 400,000 | Held at Governor House |
| Second phase, 2006 | 19,587 plots of 120 sq yd | 309,300 | Rs4.794 billion deposited with the bank |
| Third phase, February 2007 | About 7,000 plots of 240 and 400 sq yd | About 139,000 | Possession promised within three years |
| Phase II relaunch, July 2019 | 20,000 plots of 80 to 400 sq yd | About 170,000 to 176,000 | Results portal went down within an hour |
The 2007 promise of possession within three years was not kept for many allottees. Some balloted that February were still without possession in 2019.
Instalments after winning
Winning a ballot creates a debt to MDA. The successful applicant pays:
| Payment | When |
|---|---|
| Plot cost or occupancy value | In instalments under the allotment schedule |
| Development charges | Under the published payment schedule; MDA has said it requests them after other payments |
| Utility charges | Where the scheme includes them |
| Late payment surcharge | If instalments fall behind |
Unpaid instalments have been a large and long-running problem. The Auditor General's performance audit of Taiser Town, covering the 2017-18 audit year, found Rs6.69 billion received against Rs9.35 billion of occupancy value due, and only Rs445 million received against Rs3.08 billion in utility charges. Auditors linked non-payment to missing utilities and law and order, and criticised MDA for failing to cancel defaulters' plots.
Cancellation and what to do about it
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Instalments unpaid | MDA can issue notices and cancel the allotment |
| Cancellation notice published | Allottees must respond by the stated deadline |
| Allottee disputes the cancellation | Written reply with every challan; legal advice |
| Plot restored | Usually on payment of dues and restoration charges |
In July 2023, about 4,000 allottees said MDA had cancelled their balloted plots through a newspaper advertisement even though many had paid instalments and no development had reached their sectors. The audit and the allottees describe the same problem from opposite sides: MDA says allottees stopped paying, while allottees say they stopped paying because development never arrived.
Refunds for unsuccessful applicants
| Point | What to know |
|---|---|
| What is refunded | The booking amount, not the form or processing fee |
| How | Pay order, usually through the bank that took the deposit |
| Deductions | Bank charges; Rs100 plus federal excise duty in 2019 |
| Timing | MDA said in 2007 that refunds would take at least a month |
| What to keep | Form, deposit slip and CNIC copy |
Large ballots tie up large sums. In 2006, the bank held Rs4.794 billion in deposits from second-phase applicants while the ballot date was still unset. Keep every receipt until the refund is in your account.
Fake ballots and ballot files
Every MDA launch is followed by dealers selling "ballot files", "confirmed allotments" and forms for schemes that do not exist. Courts have also seen forged MDA papers. In 2025, the Sindh High Court dismissed a petition built on a 2010 "no objection" letter that MDA said was forged and absent from its records, and imposed Rs1 million in costs.
| Offer | Why it is a red flag |
|---|---|
| "Ballot file" before the draw | Ballots cannot be guaranteed |
| "Confirmed plot" with no allotment letter | A promise, not a claim on MDA land |
| Forms sold by a dealer | MDA sells forms through designated banks or online |
| Payment to a personal account | MDA takes deposits only through its banks |
| "New MDA ballot" with no advertisement | MDA told the High Court in 2024 it has no land for fresh allocation |
Our guide on how to save yourself from real estate scams in Pakistan covers the wider patterns behind these offers.
Buying a balloted plot from someone else
Many MDA plots are bought from the original winner. Before paying:
- Check the ballot result in MDA's record using the seller's CNIC and category.
- Get the allotment letter in the seller's name, not just a result printout.
- Ask MDA for a dues statement, including instalments and development charges.
- Confirm the plot has not been cancelled for default.
- Record the transfer with MDA before or alongside the sale deed.
- Check possession status for the plot and its sector.
- Budget for transfer costs. Stamp duty and advance tax are worked out on the FBR's official value, which for Taiser Town residential plots is Rs700 per square foot.
Misleading claims about approvals and allotments are not limited to MDA schemes. Our report on how the CCP targeted misleading real estate marketing shows how false approval claims reach buyers.
What the numbers show: Milkiyat.com findings
About one in nine 2019 applicants won. 20,000 ÷ 170,000 = about 11.8%. Using MDA's higher count of 176,000: about 11.4%.
The 2007 ballot was harder to win. 7,000 ÷ 139,000 = about 5%, or one in 20.
About 150,000 refunds were due after the 2019 ballot. 170,000 − 20,000 = 150,000 unsuccessful applicants. At Rs100 deducted from each refund, that is at least Rs15 million in deductions, before excise duty.
Plot prices rose sharply between phases. The 2006 first phase priced 80-yard plots at Rs500 per square yard. The 2007 third phase priced 400-yard plots at Rs1.2 million: Rs3,000 per square yard, 6 times the first-phase rate within a year, though for a larger plot category.
MDA collected about 72% of occupancy value but under 15% of utility charges. Rs6.69 billion ÷ Rs9.35 billion = about 71.6%; Rs445 million ÷ Rs3.08 billion = about 14.5%.
The 2006 to 2007 ballots allotted over 61,000 plots. 34,762 + 19,587 + about 7,000 = about 61,349 plots, against the 67,687 planned in the scheme's project document.
Checklist before you apply or buy
| Check | Where |
|---|---|
| Ballot advertised by MDA | MDA website and newspapers |
| Form from the designated bank or MDA portal | Bank or MDA |
| Deposit by pay order in MDA's name | Your bank |
| Ballot result confirmed by CNIC | MDA |
| Allotment letter in your or the seller's name | MDA |
| Payment schedule and dues statement | MDA |
| Refund received if unsuccessful | Bank |
| Plot not cancelled for default | MDA |
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How does an MDA ballot work?
A. MDA advertises the scheme, applicants buy forms and deposit a refundable booking amount for one plot category, a computerised ballot is held in public, results are published by CNIC, and winners receive a payment schedule.
Q2. Is the MDA form fee refundable?
A. No. The form or processing fee is non-refundable. The booking amount is refunded to unsuccessful applicants, minus bank charges.
Q3. How do I check an MDA ballot result?
A. In 2019, results were published online and searchable by CNIC and plot category. Confirm any result with MDA directly before relying on it.
Q4. What do I pay after winning?
A. The plot cost in instalments, development charges under the payment schedule, and any utility charges, before possession is issued.
Q5. Can MDA cancel a balloted plot?
A. Yes, for unpaid instalments, usually after a notice. Respond in writing with every challan before the deadline.
Q6. Is there a new MDA ballot in 2026?
A. MDA told the Sindh High Court in 2024 that it has no land for fresh allocation. Treat any new ballot offer as suspect unless MDA advertises it officially.
Q7. Can I buy a ballot file before the draw?
A. A pre-ballot file is a seller's promise, not a claim on MDA land. Buy only after an allotment letter is issued in the seller's name.
This guide is for general information. Ballot terms, fees and refund procedures change with each scheme, and applicants and buyers should confirm every detail with MDA's official advertisement, MDA's offices and a qualified lawyer before paying.