The Punjab government has withdrawn the mandatory requirement for the Green Property Certificate in property transactions, only weeks after introducing it as a major land administration reform. The latest decision restores the use of traditional land ownership documents for buying and selling property across the province.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), buyers and sellers will no longer be required to obtain or present a Green Property Certificate to complete property transactions. Instead, they can legally use the Fard, also known as the Record of Rights, or a certified copy of the official land record.
The notification declared the “Naqal Arazi Record” as a legally valid document for transactional purposes. The authority issued the decision under the powers granted by the Punjab Land Records Authority Act, 2017.
Officials said the move is expected to simplify the property transfer process. It is also aimed at reducing delays and allowing transactions to be completed more efficiently under the existing documentation system.
Earlier this month, the provincial government had made the Green Property Certificate compulsory for all transfers of immovable property. The requirement applied to property sales, purchases, mortgages, gifts, and other ownership transfers. The rule officially came into effect on July 1.
At the time, the reform was presented as an important step toward modernising Punjab’s land records system. Authorities said it would gradually replace the traditional Fard-e-Bai with a more secure and digitally verified process.
Under the earlier plan, existing ownership records were still expected to be issued. However, every property transfer would also require a Green Property Certificate before completion.
The proposed system involved a detailed verification process. Surveyors appointed by the Punjab Land Records Authority were required to physically inspect each property before issuing the certificate. They were expected to verify ownership, possession, and the exact location of the land.
After the physical inspection, an online public notice would remain available for 15 days. This period allowed individuals to raise objections or claims regarding the property. If no objections were received, the certificate would then be issued.
To support the initiative, the Punjab Land Records Authority had deployed surveyors across every tehsil in the province. Each tehsil was assigned five surveyors, while Lahore’s ten tehsils received a total of 50 surveyors to manage the expected workload.
With the latest notification, this mandatory certification process has now been withdrawn. Property buyers and sellers can once again complete transactions using the traditional Fard or certified land records without obtaining a Green Property Certificate.
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The revised policy marks a significant change in Punjab’s recent land reform efforts. While the province continues to pursue improvements in land administration, officials have decided to restore the previous documentation system for now. The decision is expected to make property transactions easier and reduce procedural hurdles for buyers, sellers, and other stakeholders involved in land transfers.
