The Punjab government has decided to abolish the property file system in Lahore as part of efforts to improve transparency and reduce fraud in the real estate sector.
The decision was discussed in a meeting held at the Board of Revenue, chaired by Housing Minister Bilal Yasin. Officials reviewed proposed legal changes aimed at making the land buying process more secure and transparent.
During the meeting, authorities were briefed on new legislation and proposed amendments to Lahore Development Authority (LDA) laws to address issues related to property fraud.
Bilal Yasin said that in the first phase, the file system used by housing societies in Lahore will be completely abolished. Instead, all property transactions will be linked to the Housing Schemes Management System (HSMS).
He added that departments, including the Local Government Department and Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), have been directed to implement the required legal changes. The reforms will later be expanded to other districts.
Officials also stated that no-objection certificates (NOCs) for housing societies will be issued within 90 days under the new system.
The minister instructed authorities to finalize the framework within seven days and submit their recommendations.
Under the new policy, plots will only be bought and sold based on verified location details and official documentation issued by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), replacing the existing paper-based file system.
With the introduction of HSMS, officials say the sale of illegal plots and benami files will no longer be possible.
