No more file-based property trading in Lahore from July 1, 2026

Buying and selling of “files” in all housing schemes operating in Lahore will be abolished from July 1, 2026. From July 1, neither private nor public schemes will be allowed to carry out file-based transactions. Buying and selling of plots will only be conducted through PLRA-issued property certificates. In a meeting on Monday, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq made it clear that the housing societies are required to transfer their records to the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) software-based Housing Societies Management System by June 30. Linking the records of private housing schemes with PLRA’s HSMS software is mandatory. The DG said that citizens will only be able to buy and sell plots through these property certificates starting July 1. A public awareness campaign will also be launched for this purpose. Schemes that shift to the PLRA software system will be encouraged, while legal action will be taken against those operating within LDA’s jurisdiction that fail to adopt the system. He also mentioned that private housing schemes are being granted sub-registrar-like authority under a unified software system. LDA and PLRA will jointly provide training to the private sector on the new system. The DG said that private schemes will be able to issue green certificates and registrations themselves through a digital portal. Each property certificate will include a QR code, allowing all relevant property information to be accessed in a single click. Participants of the meeting appreciated the digital reforms, saying they would increase investor confidence in the real estate sector. Chief Metropolitan Planner, Directors of Metropolitan Planning, Chairman of Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), owners and representatives of private housing schemes, as well as officials from PLRA, LDA, and Board of Revenue Punjab attended the meeting. Punjab launches Parwaaz Card scheme to fund overseas jobs for youth