If you have been holding off on a property deal in Rawalpindi because someone told you a Green Property Certificate (GPC) is now compulsory, here is the short version: it is not. In mid-July 2026 the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) reversed course, and a traditional Fard (Record of Rights) or a certified copy of the official land record once again transfers your plot with full legal standing. This article explains exactly what changed, why the confusion took hold, and the practical steps buyers and sellers should take right now.
What Actually Happened: A 10-Day Policy U-Turn
On 1 July 2026, the Punjab government made the Green Property Certificate mandatory for the sale, purchase, mortgage, gift and other transfers of immovable property across the province, positioning it to replace the age-old Fard-e-Bai for most transactions. It was billed as the biggest overhaul of a land-records system that dates back roughly 485 years.
The rollout ran into an immediate wall: land records across large parts of Punjab, including many revenue estates around Rawalpindi, are not yet fully digitised. Citizens could not reliably obtain the GPC, deals stalled, and pressure built quickly. Just about ten days later, on 11 July 2026, the government withdrew the suspension on Fard issuance and issued a fresh notification restoring the service. PLRA declared the Naqal Arazi Record (Fard) a legally valid document for transactional purposes — effectively making the Green Property Certificate optional rather than mandatory.
So Which Document Transfers Your Plot Now?
Both routes are legally recognised. You do not need a GPC to complete a transaction. What you do need depends on where your property sits and whether its record has been digitised.
| Document | Status After 11 July 2026 | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|
| Fard / Naqal Arazi Record (Record of Rights) | Legally valid for sale, purchase, mortgage, gift and transfer | Available everywhere; the default in non-digitised areas |
| Certified copy of official land record | Legally valid for transactions | When you need an authenticated extract for the sub-registrar |
| Green Property Certificate (GPC) | Optional; still issued where records are digitised | When you want a single digitised ownership-and-possession document |
Timeline at a Glance
| Date (2026) | What Changed |
|---|---|
| 29 April | Punjab announces project to replace Fard with the Green Property Certificate |
| 1 July | GPC made mandatory province-wide; Fard-e-Bai sidelined for most transfers |
| ~1–10 July | Digitisation gaps stall deals; citizens unable to secure GPCs |
| 11 July | PLRA notification restores Fard issuance; GPC becomes optional again |
Why This Matters for Rawalpindi Specifically
Rawalpindi was part of the initial rollout — preparations had been completed to launch the system at the Rawalpindi Land Record Centre. But a large share of peri-urban and society-adjacent land here is still on manual or partially digitised records. After the reversal, PLRA confirmed Fard would initially be issued for exactly these non-digitised areas. In practice, that means most ordinary buyers and sellers in the Pindi region can proceed on the familiar Fard-plus-registry route without waiting on the new system.
One important nuance for plot buyers: if you are purchasing inside an approved private housing society, the day-to-day transfer usually happens through the society’s own transfer process (transfer letter, dues clearance, allotment update). The revenue-side Fard and, where applicable, the registered sale deed at the sub-registrar govern the underlying legal title of the land. The GPC/Fard debate mainly touches that revenue layer — so verify both the society file and the land record, not just one.
Reported Fees (Confirm Locally Before You Pay)
Fee figures have been reported inconsistently during the transition, so treat these as indicative and confirm the exact charge at your Arazi Record Centre (ARC):
- Fard / Record of Rights service: reported around Rs 5,000 following restoration.
- Green Property Certificate: reported around Rs 950 as a one-time charge after a January 2026 revision, payable via Bank of Punjab counters at the ARC or the PLRA e-Pay system.
Because numbers have moved, insist on the current official schedule at the counter rather than relying on any agent’s quote.
What Buyers Should Do Now
- Get a fresh Fard dated close to your transaction from the ARC or online, and confirm the seller’s name matches the record.
- Cross-check possession and ownership — the record should reflect the seller as the current owner with no conflicting entries.
- Run an encumbrance/mortgage check so you are not inheriting a charged property.
- Register the deed at the sub-registrar as usual; a Fard or certified copy is accepted supporting evidence.
- For society plots, obtain a No-Objection/verification from the society office and confirm the file is clear of dues.
What Sellers Should Do Now
- Do not let a buyer stall you by insisting a GPC is mandatory — it is not.
- Keep your Fard current and your CNIC-linked ownership entry clean before listing.
- Clear dues and mutations (intiqal) so the transfer is not held up at the counter.
- Document everything — payment trail, agreement to sell, and receipts protect you if the policy shifts again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Green Property Certificate cancelled?
No. It has not been scrapped — it has been made optional. PLRA continues to issue the GPC in digitised areas, but you can complete a valid transaction using a Fard or a certified copy of the land record instead.
Can I still legally buy or sell my Rawalpindi plot with just a Fard?
Yes. Since the 11 July 2026 notification, a Fard (Record of Rights) or certified copy is legally sufficient for sale, purchase, mortgage, gift and transfer. Register the deed at the sub-registrar as you normally would.
Why was the GPC made optional so quickly?
Land records in much of Punjab, including many estates around Rawalpindi, are not yet fully digitised. Citizens could not obtain the certificate, transactions stalled, and the government restored the Fard system within about ten days to keep the market moving.
Should I still get a GPC if my area is digitised?
It can be convenient — it consolidates ownership and possession into one digitised document — but it is your choice. If your area’s records are not digitised, simply proceed with the Fard.
The Bottom Line
The mid-July reversal removed a compliance headache, not your legal protection. A Fard still transfers your Rawalpindi plot, and the GPC is now a convenience rather than a gatekeeper. Whichever document you use, the fundamentals do not change: verify the record, confirm possession, clear dues, and register properly. And when you are choosing where to invest, buying inside a properly approved scheme removes an entire layer of title risk — which is why an RDA-approved society like Silver City in Rawalpindi remains a sensible option worth considering while the province finishes digitising its records.
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