Governor Punjab, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has issued 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). 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 changes are designed to promote digitalisation, innovation, transparency and accountability in land administration with the stated aim of facilitating land owners and curbing long-standing disputes.
Under the amended Land Revenue Act, land division will now be carried out along with transfer of possession and ‘mesne profit’.
Reforms have also been introduced in the grievance and appeals processes. The order allows for summonses, announcements and public announcements to be issued by electronic and digital means, while also establishing a legal procedure for cutting land and eviction of illegal residents.
A key feature of the reform is the introduction of a mandatory e-registration system for land transfers, making all transfers digital.
The role of Patwaris has been limited only to hereditary transfers, while the power to remit cases to lower courts has been vested exclusively in the Board of Revenue.
The Governor also promulgated the Protection of Immovable Property Ownership (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, replacing the existing Dispute Resolution Committee with a more empowered Scrutiny Committee. The new committee will include the Deputy Commissioner, District Police Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Clerk, s7b Divisional Police Officer, District Revenue Officer and the Police Officer-in-Charge of the concerned police station.
The amended law toughens the penalties for illegal possession of property, prescribing imprisonment from five to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 10 million. or both.
