The Punjab government has introduced two new ordinances aimed at reforming land management and strengthening property rights, reducing the role of patwaris in property transfers.
Under the new framework, patwaris will now be limited to handling inheritance-related mutations, while most land transfers will move to a fully digital system.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider formally issued the two ordinances, the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 and the Immovable Property Ownership Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026.
Officials say the changes are intended to modernise land records, improve transparency and speed up dispute resolution across the province.
Shift to digital land records
The amended Land Revenue law requires all property transfers to be processed through an electronic registration system.
Possession transfers, profit-based land distribution and appeals have been restructured under the updated procedures.
Summons, notices and public announcements will now be issued electronically. The ordinance also sets out formal legal procedures for land demarcation and the eviction of illegal occupants.
The authority to refer cases back to subordinate courts has been vested exclusively in the Board of Revenue, limiting discretionary powers at lower levels.
Provincial officials say these steps are aimed at reducing delays and improving accountability in land matters.
New scrutiny, tribunal system
The second ordinance replaces the previous Dispute Resolution Committee with a new Scrutiny Committee comprising deputy commissioners, district police officers, assistant commissioners, sub-divisional police officers and other relevant officials.
Under the revised system, complaints will be filed before a tribunal made up of serving judges, including additional session judges.
The tribunal must forward cases to the Scrutiny Committee within three days. The committee is required to complete its review within 30 days and submit its findings.
A final decision must then be issued within another 30 days. Previously, such cases could take up to 90 days.
Stricter penalties for illegal occupation
The amended law also introduces tougher penalties for unlawful occupation of property.
Offenders may face prison terms ranging from five to ten years, fines of up to Rs10 million, or both.
Filing false claims can result in up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000.
The reforms follow the suspension of the earlier Property Ownership Protection Act by the Lahore High Court, prompting the provincial government to revise the legal framework.
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