Pakistan (PK)

Determine your status: NICOP/POC holder (same rights as resident citizen), or foreign national (requires multiple government permits). NICOP/POC holders can proceed directly to property search. Foreign nationals must first obtain a Property Purchase Permit from the provincial Board of Revenue, an NOC from the Ministry of Interior, BOI approval, and comply with FERA. Engage a licensed advocate before proceeding.

Overseas Pakistanis investing via the RDA framework should open a Roshan Digital Account with one of the State Bank-approved participating banks (HBL, Meezan, UBL, Bank Alfalah, Standard Chartered Pakistan, MCB, etc.) at sbp.org.pk/rda. The RDA enables full repatriation of principal and profits and access to the Roshan Apna Ghar financing product. Over 900,000 RDAs have been opened with $12+ billion in inflows as of early 2026.

Engage an independent lawyer (not introduced by the seller or agent) to: (a) search the provincial land records — Punjab: lrmis.punjab.gov.pk; Sindh: sindh.gov.pk land records; Islamabad: ICT Board of Revenue; (b) verify ownership, confirm no encumbrances, court orders, or government acquisition; (c) check FBR valuation tables (fbr.gov.pk) to understand withholding tax liability; (d) confirm the property is in a legal housing scheme approved by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), DHA, Capital Development Authority (CDA), or equivalent body.

A notarised sale agreement (Bai-Nama or Agreement to Sell) sets the price, payment schedule, and conditions. Token money (10–25%) is paid at this stage. Ensure the agreement specifies whether the seller is a filer or non-filer for tax purposes, as this affects the applicable withholding tax rates. All amounts should be paid through official banking channels.

On registration/transfer: stamp duty 5% of DC value (Punjab and Sindh); Capital Value Tax (CVT) 2% of DC value; advance withholding tax under Section 236K (buyer) — filer rate applies for NICOP/POC holders. FBR rates are set annually (updated April 2026 via S.R.O. 644(I)/2026 and related SROs). DC (Deputy Commissioner) rates are typically 30–50% below market value; FBR valuation tables set a second benchmark. Pay all taxes via PSID generated at iris.fbr.gov.pk.

Both parties attend the Sub-Registrar's office (or through power of attorney). The deed is executed, stamped, and registered. Mutation of the official ownership record is applied for at the Revenue Office (Patwari/Tehsildar in Punjab; Mukhtiarkar in Sindh). For housing society properties (DHA, Bahria Town, etc.), the society's own transfer process also applies — submit transfer application, pay NOC fee, and obtain the transfer letter.

After deed registration, apply for mutation of the revenue record at the local Revenue Office. The Patwari inspects, witnesses are summoned, and mutation is entered in the register (Jamabandi / Fard). A new Fard (land record extract) is issued in the buyer's name. This step is essential — without mutation, ownership is not reflected in the official revenue records.

Register the property in your annual income tax return (IRIS — iris.fbr.gov.pk). Overseas Pakistanis who used RDA funds must maintain the RDA banking records as proof of remittance for future repatriation. File the annual tax return to maintain filer status and benefit from reduced tax rates on future property transactions.