Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider has promulgated the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance and the Immovable Property Ownership Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026.
The amendment aims to introduce digital systems and innovations in Punjab Land Revenue, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability in land matters while providing greater convenience to landowners.
The ordinance addresses transfer of possession, distribution of land with profit, and reforms in appeals and review processes. Procedures for summons, notices, and public announcements through electronic digital means have been established.
Under the new law, legal frameworks for demarcation of land and eviction of illegal occupants will be implemented. An e-registration system will be introduced for land transfers, making all transfers fully digital, with patwaris limited to handling hereditary transfers. Only the Board of Revenue will have the authority to remand a case to the lower court.
The amendment replaces the dispute resolution committee with a Scrutiny Committee. The committee will now include the Deputy Commissioner, DPO, ADC Revenue, AC, SDPO, Circle Revenue Officer, and the officer in charge of the local police station.
Illegal occupation will attract 5 to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 10 million rupees, or both. False complaints will carry a penalty of 5 lakh rupees and imprisonment up to 5 years.
Previously, complaints were heard by the dispute resolution committee; now they will be filed before a tribunal comprising serving judges. The tribunal must forward the complaint to the Scrutiny Committee within three days. The committee will submit its report within 30 days, compared to the earlier allowance of up to 90 additional days with commissioner approval.
The tribunal must issue a decision within 30 days, instead of the earlier 90-day period, and is empowered to hear related offenses in a single case, whereas previously it was limited to actions under the Act. The tribunal can now implement protective measures, a function previously reserved for the Deputy Commissioner.
After the ordinance, serving Additional Session Judges will be members of the tribunal, replacing retired High Court and Sessions judges.
The amendments follow a Lahore High Court suspension of the original Property Ownership Protection Act, prompting the government to introduce these revisions.
