Green certificate to secure property deals

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Land Records Authority and the Board of Revenue will introduce the Green Property Certificate system for all property transactions from July 1, with the start of the new fiscal year.

Under the new system, the centuries-old requirement of obtaining a "Fard-e-Bai" from patwaris as proof of ownership for property transactions has been abolished.

The Revenue Department has directed all registrars and tehsildar offices in Rawalpindi Division to implement the new system from July 1. The fee for obtaining the Green Property Certificate has also been increased after the expiry of the subsidised Rs900 fee on June 30.

Punjab Land Records Authority Chairman Tariq Subhani said the traditional system of issuing Fard-e-Bai and related documents would be completely discontinued across Punjab. He said the Green Property Certificate has been introduced to safeguard ownership and property boundaries while eliminating fraud and forgery in property transactions.

He termed it a historic reform in the province's centuries-old land administration system, saying the certificate verifies both ownership and possession. DC Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar said the Green Property Certificate is an authentic legal document issued by the PLRA that verifies ownership, possession and the legal status of property.