Home›Guides›How to Transfer Property Ownership in Lahore
🏠

How to Transfer Property Ownership in Lahore

Buying or selling property in Lahore? This guide walks through every office, every form, and the correct order of steps to complete an Intiqal (ownership transfer).

LandLahore⏱ Several days to weeks💰 Stamp duty + CVT + registration fee (varies by property value)
  • Original sale deed / agreement to sell
  • Fard (property ownership record) from PLRA — must be recent (within 30 days)
  • Original CNICs of both buyer and seller
  • CNIC photocopies of both parties
  • 2 witnesses with original CNICs
  • Bank draft or pay order for stamp duty (from any bank)
  • NOC from housing society or LDA (if applicable)
  • Latest paid utility bills for the property
1
Get the Fard (ownership record) from PLRA
The Fard is an official document showing the current registered owner of the property. Get it from the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) office or online at plra.punjab.gov.pk. It must be recent — older than 30 days may be rejected. Fee: PKR 200–500.
2
Verify the property is free of encumbrances
Check that the property has no loans, court orders, or disputes registered against it. The Fard will show this. If there's a bank mortgage, it must be cleared before transfer. Ask the seller for a clearance letter from their bank.
3
Draft the sale deed
Hire a licensed stamp vendor or lawyer to draft the sale deed. It must include: full property description, agreed sale price, names and CNICs of buyer and seller, and signatures of both parties and two witnesses.
4
Pay stamp duty at a bank
Stamp duty in Punjab is 3% of the property value (for properties above PKR 4 million). Capital Value Tax (CVT) is an additional 2%. Buy a bank draft or pay order from any bank made payable to the relevant Sub-Registrar. Keep the original challan.
5
Visit the Sub-Registrar office
Both the buyer and seller must be physically present at the Sub-Registrar office in the district where the property is located. Bring all documents: Fard, sale deed, CNICs of both parties + witnesses, and the bank challan.
6
Registration and biometrics
The Sub-Registrar will verify all documents. Both buyer, seller, and witnesses will have their fingerprints scanned (biometric verification against NADRA database). The deed is then officially registered.
7
Mutation (Intiqal) at the Patwari office
After registration, apply for Intiqal (mutation) at the local Patwari office. The Patwari will inspect the property and update the official land record in your name. This can take 2–4 weeks. Follow up regularly.
8
Get your updated Fard
Once Intiqal is complete, get a new Fard from PLRA showing you as the registered owner. This is your proof of ownership. Keep it safe.
  • Never hand over payment until the sale deed is registered at the Sub-Registrar — unregistered agreements have little legal standing
  • Hire a local property lawyer (wakeel) — PKR 10,000–30,000 is worth it for a transaction of this size
  • The Fard must be in the seller's exact name — discrepancies cause rejection and delays
  • Follow up on the Intiqal at the Patwari office every few days — it doesn't move on its own
  • Verify the property's dimensions on-site before signing anything
  • Check for unpaid property tax (rates) — these transfer with the property
Can a power of attorney (POA) be used instead of the seller being present?
Yes, but the POA must be registered and notarized. The Sub-Registrar will verify it carefully. An unregistered POA is not accepted.
What is the difference between registry and Intiqal?
Registry (at the Sub-Registrar) is the legal transfer of the deed. Intiqal (mutation) is the update of the government land record to show the new owner. Both are required — registry alone is not enough.
How long does the whole process take?
Typically 2–6 weeks if documents are in order. Delays usually happen at the Patwari/Intiqal stage.
Is it possible to do this without a lawyer?
Technically yes, but not recommended. A lawyer catches issues with the deed, Fard discrepancies, or encumbrances before you commit. The fee is small relative to the transaction.
Last updated: 2026-03-20. Requirements and fees can change — always verify with the official office before visiting.