A lot of property disputes start the same way. Someone finds a good plot, likes the price and pays a token before anyone looks closely at the papers. Sorting out a bad title later can take years. Checking it first takes a few days.
Here is the order we suggest going through it. Treat it as general guidance, not legal advice, and get the final opinion from a property lawyer you trust.
1. Get the latest fard
The fard (record of rights) shows who owns the land and what share each owner holds. For land in the revenue record, get a fresh copy from a Punjab Land Records Authority Arazi Record Centre using the khewat and khasra numbers. Check that the seller’s name, CNIC and share match exactly. An old photocopy handed over by the seller is not enough.
2. Follow the chain of mutations
Every time the land changed hands, a mutation (intiqal) should have been entered and approved in the record. Ask for the earlier mutations and read them in order. A gap in the chain, a mutation that is still pending, or a transfer that was never sanctioned is a reason to stop and ask questions.
3. Check the registry for urban property
For houses and plots in town, ownership usually rests on a registered sale deed. Check it against the Sub-Registrar’s record, confirm the stamp duty was paid, and make sure the plot number, size and boundaries in the deed match what you are being shown on the ground.
4. Confirm the housing scheme is approved
If the plot is in a private housing society, check that the scheme itself is approved. The Multan Development Authority (MDA) publishes lists of approved and illegal schemes, so look at the current list rather than relying on a brochure or a dealer. For DHA Multan, verify the file or plot through DHA’s own transfer office.
5. Look for loans, court cases and family claims
Ask whether the property is mortgaged to a bank and whether there is a stay order or a case pending on it. Inherited land needs extra care: every legal heir has to be part of the inheritance mutation, and a sale signed by one brother can be challenged by the rest of the family.
6. Visit the site and measure it
Go to the plot, see who is actually in possession and walk the boundaries. If there is any doubt, ask for demarcation through the revenue staff. Also check which marla the papers use. The revenue record and many housing societies do not use the same marla size, so a “10 marla” plot can be noticeably smaller than you expect.
7. Before you build, know the approval route
Buying the plot is only half of it. The building plan has to be approved by the authority that controls the area, which may be MDA, DHA Multan or the local municipal body depending on where the plot is. Building without approval can mean fines, a stop order or trouble when you later try to sell.
A short checklist
- A fresh fard in the seller’s name, with matching CNIC and share
- A full chain of approved mutations
- The registered sale deed checked against the Sub-Registrar’s record
- The scheme listed as approved by MDA, or the plot verified by DHA
- No mortgage, stay order or pending case
- Every legal heir included where the land was inherited
- A site visit, with possession and boundaries confirmed
- The building plan approval route understood before you buy
How we can help
If you are buying land to build on, bring the papers to our office on Bosan Road before you pay anything. Our real estate team will go through them with you, point out what is missing and tell you which checks still need a lawyer. Call or WhatsApp 0300-0672384 to book a time.
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Tell us where your plot is and what you want to build. We will come and see it, and give you a written estimate.
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