How to Verify Property Ownership in Pakistan
Step-by-step guide to verifying who actually owns a property in Pakistan before buying.
By ilaan Editorial Desk
Updated 4 Jul 2026
Why Verify Property Ownership?
Property fraud is rampant in Pakistan. Verifying ownership before paying any advance is the single most important step in any property transaction. People have lost crores because they trusted a seller without verification.
Method 1: PLRA (Punjab Land Records Authority)
For properties in Punjab, visit plra.punjab.gov.pk. Enter: District, Tehsil, and Khasra/Khata number OR plot/house number. View the current Fard (ownership record) showing: owner's name, CNIC, property details, any encumbrances. Download official Fard for PKR 50-100. This is the gold standard for Punjab verification.
Method 2: Sub-Registrar Office
Visit the Sub-Registrar office for the area. Request search of Registry records for the property address. Can trace all historical ownership transfers. Shows if any mortgages or liens are registered.
Method 3: Housing Authority Records
For DHA: Visit DHA records office with property details. They can confirm: current owner, any pending dues, transfer restrictions. For Bahria Town: Bahria Town head office verification. For LDA schemes: LDA records office.
Method 4: Patwari Office
For agricultural and rural land, the Patwari (local revenue officer) maintains Jamabandi records. Visit the Patwari for your village/mauza. Cross-reference with PLRA records.
Red Flags During Verification
- Owner name doesn't match CNIC presented
- Property shows multiple owners but only one is selling
- Mortgage/lien registered on property
- Records show different property boundaries than what's being sold
- Ownership was transferred very recently before current sale attempt
Verification Cost and Time
PLRA online: PKR 50-100, instant. Sub-Registrar search: PKR 500-2,000, same day. Housing authority: Free-PKR 1,000, 1-3 days. Lawyer verification service: PKR 5,000-15,000, 3-7 days.
