LAHORE: The provincial government of Punjab has promulgated the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025, a far-reaching law designed to shield lawful owners of land and buildings and provide swift remedies against illegal dispossession.
The legislation, came into effect immediately, covering the entire province.
Under the powers conferred by Article 128 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the governor of Punjab declared that the provincial assembly was not in session and that “circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action.” The new law seeks to close a long-standing gap in protection of property rights and to streamline dispute resolution.
The ordinance, a copy of which is available with The News, effective immediately, represents one of the most comprehensive frameworks in Punjab’s legislative history to curb land-grabbing, fraud and coercive occupation of private and public properties. It overrides all existing laws on the subject and provides both civil and criminal mechanisms for recovery and protection of ownership.
Under the law, obtaining or retaining possession of any immovable property without lawful authority, or through deceit, coercion, or fraud, is declared a criminal offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment of not less than five years and up to ten years. Those who abet, facilitate, or conspire in such acts face imprisonment of one to three years and fines up to one million rupees. Offences committed by companies, societies or partnerships will also render their directors and responsible officers criminally liable unless they prove lack of knowledge or due diligence.
The ordinance creates a two-tier redressal system for ownership disputes. A Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) will be constituted in every district, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and including the District Police Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Assistant Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, and a co-opted government officer. The committee has powers equivalent to a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, enabling it to summon individuals, examine records, and take administrative measures to protect lawful possession. The DRC must resolve each complaint within ninety days, extendable once by another ninety days with written approval from the divisional commissioner. It may also refer cases directly to a newly created tribunal.
If amicable resolution fails, the matter will proceed to a Property Tribunal, which the government is mandated to establish in every district. Each tribunal will be headed by a member — a former judge of the Lahore High Court or a District Judge — nominated by the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court and appointed for a three-year term. The tribunal possesses exclusive jurisdiction to try all offences and questions of title, functioning simultaneously as a civil court and a court of sessions. Proceedings must be conducted on a day-to-day basis and concluded within ninety days of receipt.