Before you buy land, a house or a plot outside a housing society in Punjab, the first document to check is the fard. It shows who owns the land according to the official record, how much each owner holds and whether anything such as a mortgage or court order is attached to it. The Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) now lets you get this record online as well as at its service centres. This guide explains what a fard is, how to check it, how to read it and the warning signs to look for before you pay.
Quick answer: To check a fard online in Punjab, open the official PLRA website punjab-zameen.gov.pk, choose Get Online Fard, select the district, tehsil and mauza, search the record using the khewat, khasra or owner details, confirm the owner's CNIC, pay the fee and download the fard. You can also get it from any Arazi Record Centre with your original CNIC. For help, call the PLRA helpline on 042-111-222-277.
What Is a Fard?
A fard is an official extract from the land record, often called the record of rights or jamabandi. It is issued by PLRA and usually shows:
- The names of the owners and their share in the land
- The khewat number, which identifies the ownership holding
- The khatooni number, which relates to cultivation or possession
- The khasra numbers, which identify each field or parcel
- The total area, usually in kanal and marla
- Mutation (intiqal) numbers showing how ownership changed over time
- Remarks such as a mortgage, a court order or another restriction
A fard does not expire, but the record changes every time land is sold, inherited or mortgaged. Always get the latest version on the day you plan to pay or register the deal.
How to Check a Fard Online
- Go to the official PLRA website, punjab-zameen.gov.pk, and open Get Online Fard.
- Select the district, tehsil and mauza (village or town) where the land is located. Choose the exact mauza name used in the revenue record.
- Search for the record using the khewat, khatooni or khasra number, or the owner details if that option is offered.
- Confirm the owner's CNIC when asked.
- Check that the record matches the land you are buying, then pay the online fee.
- Download the fard. Digital records carry a QR code that can be scanned to confirm they are genuine.
The screens and options can change, so if you cannot find the record, call the helpline or visit an Arazi Record Centre.
How to Get a Fard From an Arazi Record Centre
- Call the PLRA helpline on 042-111-222-277 to book an appointment, or find your nearest centre on the PLRA website.
- Take your original CNIC and any details of the land you have, such as the khewat or khasra number, a registry copy or a mutation copy.
- Collect a token and wait for your turn.
- Pay the fee against a challan at the Bank of Punjab counter.
- Complete biometric verification and collect the printed fard.
If you are applying through someone holding your power of attorney, they must submit an attested copy of the power of attorney, which the centre verifies before issuing the fard.
PLRA Service Charges for 2026-27
PLRA notified its service charges for 2026-27 in July 2026. Some of the main ones are:
- Express copy of land records (fard, mutation or girdawari): Rs 4,000
- Green Property Certificate: Rs 800
- Mutation: Rs 1,200 ordinary, Rs 2,100 through a bank or Rs 11,200 express
- E-registration service fee: 0.1% of the land value, with a minimum of Rs 3,600
These are PLRA charges only. Stamp duty, local transfer tax and federal taxes are paid separately when the land is transferred. Our guide to property transfer fees in Punjab explains the full cost.
How to Read a Fard Before You Buy
Match the Owner and the Seller
The name and CNIC of the person selling must match the owner shown on the fard. If someone else is selling, ask for a registered power of attorney and check that it is genuine.
Check the Share, Not Just the Name
Many khewats are jointly owned. A seller may own only part of the land, for example a share inherited with brothers and sisters. Make sure the area you are buying is not more than the seller's share.
Check the Khasra and Area
Confirm that the khasra numbers and the area match the land you visited. Ask for a demarcation (hadbandi) if the boundaries are unclear.
Read the Remarks Carefully
Look for any mention of a mortgage, a bank loan, a court stay or government ownership. Do not pay any money until a restriction is removed and the updated fard shows it clearly.
Look at Recent Mutations
Several sales or transfers of the same land in a short period can be a warning sign. Ask the seller to explain the history and check each mutation.
Green Property Certificate: The Next Step After the Fard
PLRA is introducing the Green Property Certificate, a digital ownership document with a QR code. Before it is issued, PLRA checks ownership history, dues, mortgages and court cases, and measures the boundaries on site. Reports in 2026 say it has started replacing the fard in some districts, with a target to cover all of Punjab by the end of 2026. Ask at your Arazi Record Centre whether it is required in your district.
In housing schemes under the Lahore Development Authority, file trading has stopped and transfers now go through a QR-coded Property Certificate. If you are buying in a society, also read our guide to plot file verification in Pakistan.
Warning Signs in a Fard
- The seller's name or CNIC does not match the fard.
- The seller owns only a share but is selling the whole area.
- The remarks show a mortgage, court order or government ownership.
- The seller gives only a photocopy and avoids an online check.
- The land is in a scheme without approval. Check our guide to LDA and CDA approved housing societies.
For the full buying process from choosing an area to the final transfer, see our buyer's checklist to transfer, and compare verified listings on Pakistan Property.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I Check a Fard Online in Punjab?
Yes. Use the Get Online Fard service on the official PLRA website, punjab-zameen.gov.pk, by selecting the district, tehsil and mauza and searching with the land or owner details.
2. What Details Do I Need to Get a Fard?
You usually need the district, tehsil and mauza, plus a khewat, khatooni or khasra number or the owner's details. At an Arazi Record Centre, take your original CNIC.
3. Does a Fard Expire?
No, but the record changes after every sale, inheritance or mortgage. Get a fresh fard just before you pay or register the deal.
4. What Is the PLRA Helpline Number?
The PLRA helpline is 042-111-222-277. You can call it for appointments and help with land record services.
5. What Is the Green Property Certificate?
It is a QR-coded digital ownership document from PLRA that confirms ownership, possession and the absence of dues, mortgages or court cases. The fee for 2026-27 is Rs 800.
6. Is a Fard Enough to Prove Ownership in a Housing Society?
Not always. Housing societies keep their own allotment and transfer records, so also verify the plot with the society and check that the scheme is approved.
Comments
Post a Comment