The Punjab government has decided to suspend the Green Certificate system for six months following concerns raised by lawmakers about land transactions and the accuracy of property records.
Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman announced the decision during a Punjab Assembly session, acknowledging issues associated with the current system.
Opposition Leader Rana Aftab Ahmed raised concerns about alleged corruption in the Land Department and difficulties faced by citizens when obtaining land ownership records. He also questioned whether the Green Certificate had improved the process compared with the traditional patwari system.
Lawmakers Raise Land Record Concerns
Several lawmakers highlighted problems in the management and computerization of land records. Raja Shaukat Bhatti claimed that multiple people could sometimes appear as owners of the same property, while Amjad Ali Javed said he had previously warned officials about potential issues with the Green Certificate system.
Questions were also raised about the legal authority to suspend a system approved by the provincial assembly. The Punjab Assembly Speaker questioned whether such a decision should also require approval from the assembly.
Lawmakers further claimed that land records covering 2020 to 2026 had not yet been completely computerized.
Bottom Line
The six-month suspension is intended to allow authorities to address concerns surrounding land records, ownership verification and property transactions. The development highlights the need for accurate and properly computerized land records to make property transactions more transparent and reliable in Punjab.
