This guide covers checking land registry records online in Punjab — using the PLRA portal, understanding ownership and share details, and identifying encumbrances before property transactions.
Access the PLRA Land Registry Portal
Punjab's land registry is managed by the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA) through its online portal at lrmis.punjab.gov.pk. The portal is publicly accessible — you don't need to be the property owner to run a basic check. Navigate to the property search or Fard section and enter the relevant details: district, tehsil, mouza, and either the owner's name or the property identifier (khasra number or khewat number).
Understand the Land Record Output
A Punjab land registry extract (Fard) shows several key pieces of information: Khewat number: The ownership register entry number for the property's title chain. Khatoni number: The cultivation/possession record number. Khasra number: The individual plot identifier within a mouza. Owner details: Full registered owner name with their CNIC and their share in the property (in fractions if jointly owned). Encumbrance column: Any registered mortgages, court orders, or caveats against the property.
Verify Ownership Before Any Transaction
For any property purchase: run the registry check on the day of the transaction — not days or weeks before, as records change after each mutation. Confirm the seller's full name and CNIC exactly match the registered owner on the Fard. If the property is jointly owned, confirm all co-owners are party to the sale. If the registered owner is deceased, ensure the inheritance mutation has been processed and the current heirs are the registered owners before proceeding.
Check Encumbrances and Legal Status
The encumbrance section of the land registry extract is the most critical for buyers. Any entry here indicates: a bank or financial institution has a registered mortgage against the property; a court has ordered a freeze or attachment on the property; or another party has filed a caveat claiming a competing ownership interest. None of these can be ignored — each requires resolution before a legal sale can proceed. Contact the registered encumbrance holder to understand the specific obligation and the process for its removal.
Registration and Documentation Problems
The sale may not have been properly registered as a mutation in PLRA's system. Ask for documentary evidence of the mutation (intiqal) processing or check for a pending mutation entry at the local revenue office.
An inheritance mutation must be processed first to transfer the registry entries to the legal heirs. Don't complete a purchase until the mutation is done and the current legal owners are correctly reflected in PLRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — basic property record lookup on lrmis.punjab.gov.pk is free. Fees apply only for certified Fard issuance at Arazi Record Centres.
PLRA covers Punjab province. Islamabad is administered federally by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). KP, Sindh, and Balochistan have their own provincial land record systems.