Fact Check: Are Waqf Board Properties in India Larger Than the Entire Area of Pakistan?

Amid discussions surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill, a viral social media post has been circulating with claims that the Waqf Board properties in India are larger than the whole of Pakistan. Specifically, the post states, “The area of Pakistan is 8.81 lakh square kilometres. The area of the Waqf Board is 9.40 lakh square kilometres. One Pakistan was created outside, and one was created inside.” FactCheck India investigated these claims and found them to be false.

The Viral Claim

The claim suggests that the total area managed by the Waqf Board in India is 9.40 lakh square kilometres, making it larger than Pakistan’s total area of approximately 8.81 lakh square kilometres.

Our Investigation

Using keyword searches, we traced the origins of this viral claim and analyzed data from official reports:

1. Clarifying the Area of Waqf Board Properties:
   • Reports, including those from The Economic Times, indicate that the Waqf Board oversees approximately 9.4 lakh acres of property, not square kilometres.
   • 9.4 lakh acres is approximately 3,804 square kilometres.
   • By comparison, Pakistan’s total area is 8,81,913 square kilometres, making it over 231 times larger than the total area controlled by the Waqf Boards in India.
2. Statements from Authorities:
   • The Ministry of Minority Affairs has documented the Waqf Board’s holdings, confirming they span 9.4 lakh acres across India. The properties are valued at an estimated Rs 1.2 lakh crore.
   • Mohd. Ali Khan, former chairman of the Development Committee of the Central Waqf Council, dismissed the viral claim, affirming the accuracy of the Ministry’s published figures.
   • Zufar Ahmad Faruqi, chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, also verified that the claim was incorrect.

Conclusion

The viral claim that Waqf Board properties in India are larger than the total area of Pakistan is false. The actual area managed by the Waqf Board is 9.4 lakh acres, equating to approximately 3,804 square kilometres, which is far smaller than Pakistan’s area of 8,81,913 square kilometres.

Verdict: False

The claim that Waqf Board properties in India cover more area than Pakistan is factually incorrect and has been debunked through official data and expert statements.