Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has promulgated two ordinances aimed at reforming land administration and strengthening the protection of property rights in the province.
The Governor exercised his powers under Article 128(1) of the Constitution to promulgate the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 and the Protection of Immovable Property (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.
Officials said the amendments aim to promote digitalization, innovation, transparency and accountability in land administration, with the stated aim of facilitating landowners and reducing long-standing conflicts.
Under the amended Land Revenue Act, land sharing will now be done along with transfer of possession and “mesne benefit”.
Reforms have also been introduced to appeal and review procedures. The ordinance authorizes the sending of summons, notices and public announcements through electronic and digital means, while a legal procedure has been provided for the demarcation of land and the eviction of illegal occupants.
A key part of the reform is the introduction of a mandatory electronic registration system for land transfers, making all transfers digital.
The role of patwaris was restricted to hereditary transfers only, while the power to refer cases to lower courts was vested exclusively in the Board of Revenue.
The governor also promulgated the Protection of Immovable Property (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, replacing the existing dispute resolution committee with a more empowered monitoring committee. The new committee will include the deputy commissioner, district police officer, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), assistant commissioner, s7b divisional police officer, circle revenue officer and the officer-in-charge of the concerned police station.
The amended law strengthens penalties for illegal possession of property, providing for imprisonment of five to ten years and fines of up to Rs 10 million, or both.
