The Punjab government has introduced strict new rules for land transfers, banning any changes in ownership based on verbal agreements or informal claims. This reform, effective now, requires all sales, gifts, mortgages, and exchanges to be backed by officially registered documents, aiming to cut corruption and reduce long-running land disputes across the province.
Key Changes in Land Transfer Process
Under the latest notification from the Board of Revenue Punjab, revenue officers can no longer approve mutations (ownership updates) without proper legal proof. The rules apply to most property dealings, with inheritance cases remaining the main exception—those still follow court orders or existing inheritance laws.
- Property sales, gifts, mortgages, or exchanges now need a registered deed.
- No oral transactions, statements, or unregistered claims will be accepted for recording changes.
- Patwaris and other field officers have lost much of their old authority over transfers and documentation.
- All transfers must go through sub-registrars or approved centers like e-Sahulat outlets.
- Ownership gets verified fully before the Fard (record of rights) is issued.
Officials say these steps build on years of digitization work by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA). The old system often allowed patwaris wide discretion, which led to bribes, fake entries, and endless court cases. Now, the process shifts to formal channels for better checks and public access.
The government views this as a practical way to make land dealings clearer and fairer for ordinary people. Citizens should face fewer delays and less risk of fraud when buying, selling, or inheriting property.
No immediate official quote came with the notification, but revenue department sources describe it as a direct effort to protect genuine owners and limit opportunities for wrongdoing.
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What This Means for Citizens
People planning land deals should prepare registered documents from the start. The changes discourage quick verbal handovers that often cause trouble later. For inheritance, court decisions or succession certificates remain key.
The reform ties into broader PLRA efforts, where many services—like getting Fard copies—already run online or through NADRA e-Sahulat centers. This pushes more people toward digital and verified channels.
