PUNJAB LAND RECORDS AUTHORITY ACT 2017

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THE PUNJAB LAND RECORDS AUTHORITY ACT 2017 
(VI of 2017) 
CONTENTS 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
CHAPTER II 
PUNJAB LAND RECORDS AUTHORITY 
3. The Authority 
4. Principal Office 
5. Functions of the Authority 
CHAPTER III 
ADMINISTRATION OF AUTHORITY 
6. The Board 
7. Meetings of the Board 
8. Removal of members 
9. Director General 
10. Appointment of officers and staff 
11. Appointment by transfer 
12. Delegation 
13. Assignment of functions 
CHAPTER IV 
LAND RECORDS AND ARAZI RECORD CENTRES 
14. Preparation of land record 
15. Documents included in land records 
16. Presumption in favour of land records 
17. Arazi Record Centres 
18. Mutation Fee and Charges 
CHAPTER V 
APPEAL, REVIEW AND REVISION 
19. Appeal, Review and Revision 
20. Correction and Updation of the Land Records 
CHAPTER VI 
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 
21. Fund 
22. Budget 
23. Accounts and Audit 
24. Bank Accounts 
CHAPTER VII 
MISCELLANEOUS 
25. Public servants 
26. Indemnity 
27. Directions by the Government 
28. Act to override other laws 
29. Rules 
30. Regulations 
31. Succession 
32. Removal of difficulties 
33. Repeal 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB LAND RECORDS AUTHORITY ACT 2017 
(VI of 2017) 
[13th February, 2017] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the establishment of the Punjab Land Records Authority for reform and 
modernization of the system of land records. 
It is necessary to establish the Punjab Land Records Authority to reform and 
modernize the system of land records, to improve the land records service delivery ; 
to contribute to long lasting tenure security; and, to deal with ancillary matters. 
Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:– 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Land Records Authority Act 2017. 
 (2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
 (3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act: 
(a) “Arazi Record Centre” means a n office, service centr e or facility  
established or notified in terms of section 17 of the Act;  
(b) “Assistant Commissioner” means an officer of the Government 
appointed as Assistant Commissioner under section 10 of the Punjab 
Land Revenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 1967); 
(c) “Assistant Director Land Records” means an employee of the Authority 
designated as such at an Arazi Record Centre and includes such other 
employee as the Director General may designate to act as Assistant 
Director Land Records; 
(d) “Authority” means the Punjab Land Records Authority established 
under section 3 of the Act; 
(e) “Board” means the Board constituted under section 6 of the Act; 
(f) “Board of  Revenue” means Punjab Board of Revenue established 
under the Punjab Board of Revenue Act, 1957 (XI of 1957);  
(g) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Board; 
(h) “Commissioner” means an officer of the Government appointed as 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 8 February 2017; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab 
on 11 February 2017; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13 February 2017, pp.4527-4533. 
Commissioner under section 8 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act , 1967 
(XVII of 1967); 
(i) “Director General” means a person appointed as Director General 
under section 9 of the Act; 
(j) “District Collector” means an officer of the Government appointed as 
the Collector of the District  under section 8 of the Punjab Land 
Revenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 1967); 
(k) “employee” means any person in the employment and service of the 
Authority; 
(l) “Fund” means the Punjab Land Records Authority Fund established 
under section 21 of the Act; 
(m) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(n) “Land records” includes any information in electronic, digital or 
computerized form in relation to land or buildings; 
(o) “Land Record Officer” means an employee of the Authority designated 
as such for an Arazi Record Centre and includes such other employee 
as the Director General may designate to act as Land Record Officer; 
(p) “member” means a member of the Board; 
(q) “PMU” means the Project Management Unit, Land Records 
Management and Information Systems, Board of Revenue, Punjab;  
(r) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations; 
(s) “regulations” mean the regulations framed under the Act; and  
(t) “rules” mean the rules made under the Act. 
(2) A word or expression used in the Act but not defined s hall have the 
same meaning as assigned to it under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 
1967) or the rules made under that Act. 
CHAPTER II 
PUNJAB LAND RECORDS AUTHORITY 
3. The Authority.– (1) The Government shall, by notification, establish an 
Authority to be called the Punjab Land Records Authority for carrying out purposes of 
the Act. 
 (2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession 
and a common seal, with power to enter into agreements, acquire and hold property, 
both movable and immovable, and may, by the said name, sue and be sued.  
4. Principal Office.– The principal office of the Authority shall be at Lahore, and 
it may establish regional offices at such other place or places in the Punjab as it 
deems appropriate.  
5. Functions of the Authority.– The Authority shall: 
(a) frame policies for implementing this Act; 
(b) manage, update and maintain land records;  
(c) formulate strategies, policies and plans for the management of land 
records; 
(d) provide efficient and prompt services to the public; 
(e) develop a human resource management system for effective discharge 
of the functions under the Act; 
(f) advise the Government on matters relating to improvement and 
modernization of land records management; 
(g) manage technical cooperation and coordination with other Government 
departments, including foreign organizations and international inter -
governmental organizations, on its own or on behalf of the 
Government; 
(h) lay down the administrative, financial, legal and technical fra mework 
including the information technology based land records management 
and related services; 
(i) recommend to the Government draft policies and procedures for 
coordination with all other Government departments, including the 
Board of Revenue, for smooth operation of the activities under the Act; 
(j) explore new revenue models and sources of revenue for provision of 
services under the Act; 
(k) provide for the computerization of the record -of-rights or part thereof or 
any other land related document, prepa ration of the computerized land 
record and its maintenance, in respect of each estate, in collaboration 
with the Board of Revenue; 
(l) establish Arazi Record Centres, maintain and operate such Centres 
and provide for monitoring the performance of Arazi Record Centres; 
(m) co-ordinate with the Board of Revenue for preparation of computerized 
land record of any area in respect of which no record -of-rights exists or 
the existing records-of-rights requires special revision; 
(n) prescribe, receive, deposit, utilize and refund fees and charges; 
(o) execute, administer and monitor contracts of any nature; 
(p) pass its annual budget containing the estimated receipts and 
expenditures;  
(q) appoint independent auditors to undertake the audit of accounts of the 
Authority; 
(r) enter into public private partnership arrangements for purposes of 
carrying out any of its functions and activities; 
(s) designate any place or facility for provision of land records or part 
thereof; and 
(t) perform such other functions as are incidental or consequential to  any 
of the aforesaid functions.  
 
CHAPTER III 
ADMINISTRATION OF AUTHORITY 
6. The Board.– (1) The management and administration of the Au thority shall 
vest in the Board  and the Board may perform functions of the Authority by itsel f or 
through the employees of the Authority as may be prescribed. 
(2) The Board shall consist of the Chairperson who shall be appointed by 
the Chief Minister and the following members: 
(a) Senior Member, Board of Revenue; Member 
(b) Member (Taxes), Board of Revenue; Member 
(c) all Commissioners; Members 
(d) Director General; and Member 
(e) five members to be nominated by  Members 
 the Chief Minister;  
 (3) The Director General shall act as Secretary of the Board. 
 (4) The tenure of members , other than ex officio members, shall be three 
years, unless sooner terminated under section 8 of the Act. 
 (5) No act or proceeding of the Board shall be invalid by reason only of the 
existence of a vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Board.  
 (6)  The Chief Minister may alter or modify the composition of the Board.  
7. Meetings of the Board .– (1) The meetings of the Board shall be presided 
over by the Chair person or in his absence by a member nominated by the 
Chairperson, or  if no such nomination is made, by a m ember elected for that 
meeting by the members present. 
 (2) Seven members of the Board shall constitute the quorum for a meeting 
of the Board. 
 (3) Subject to subsection (4), t he meetings of the Board shall be held at 
such time and place as the Chairperson may determine.  
 (4) The Director General shall call a  meeting of the Board as and when 
directed by the  Chairperson or on a request in writing by at least  one third of the 
members of the Board or on receipt of any reference from the Government for 
placing the matter before the Board. 
 (5) The Board shall take  decision by majority of its members present and 
voting and, in case of a tie, the person presiding the meeting shall have a casting 
vote. 
 (6) The Director General shall maintain a record of the minutes of all the 
meetings highlighting the proceedings and the decisions taken by the Board. 
(7) The Director General shall submit the minutes of a meeting to the 
person who presided that meeting for approval. 
8. Removal of members.– (1) The Chief Minister may remove a member, other 
than ex officio member, if he: 
(a) is declared by the court as an insane person; or 
(b) is found guilty of misconduct or found acting against the interest of the 
Authority; or 
(c) is convicted by a court on charge s of corrupt pract ice, moral turpitude 
or misuse of power or authority under any law; or 
(d) is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board and is unable 
to justify his absence; or 
(e) is recommended to be removed by at least three fourth of the total 
members of the Board. 
 (2) A member may resign by tendering resignation in writing to the Board. 
9. Director General.– (1) There shall be a Director General of the Authority who 
shall be appointed by the Chief Minister.  
 (2) The Director General shall, unless sooner removed or repatriated in the 
prescribed manner, hold office for three  years or for such further period as the Chief 
Minister may, on the recommendations of the Board, determine. 
 (3) The Director General shall be paid such remuneration and allowances 
and shall be entitled to such privileges and facilities as the Board  may determine but 
which shall not be less favourable than his emoluments in the basic pay scale prior 
to his appointment, and the same shall not be varied to his disadvantage during his 
term of office.  
 (4) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Authority and shall be responsible for the day to day administration of the affairs of 
the Authority and shall exercise such powers and functions as may be prescribed or 
assigned to him by the Authority. 
10. Appointment of officers and staff .– (1) The Authority may appoint such  
employees as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions on such 
terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 
 (2) Subject to the terms and  conditions of appointment, the Authority may, 
at any time, terminate the services of an employee by serving thirty days’ prior notice 
or on payment of thirty days salary in lieu of the notice. 
11. Appointment by transfer .– (1) The Government may, on the r equest of the 
Authority, transfer the services of an employee to the Authority on the terms and 
conditions which shall not be less favourable than those admissible to him 
immediately before his transfer to the Authority. 
 (2) An employee transferred under subsection (1) shall continue to be the 
employee of the Government, liable to be transferred back to the Government 
unless, with the consent of the employee and approval of the Government, he is 
absorbed in the service of the Authority in such manner and o n such terms and 
conditions as may be prescribed. 
12. Delegation.– The Board may, on such conditions and limitations as it may 
deem fit to impose, delegate any of the functions or powers of the Authority to a 
member, the Director General, or any of the employees of the Authority except the 
power to: 
(a) approve audited accounts of the Authority; 
(b) frame, amend or repeal Regulations; 
(c) recommend the proposed rules;  
(d) approve the annual budget; 
(e) determine the terms and conditions of service of the D irector General 
and other employees of the Authority; and 
(f) appoint Directors and Additional Directors. 
13. Assignment of functions .– The Authority may assign  such functions and 
responsibilities to the Commissioners, District Collectors and Assistant 
Commissioners as it may deem necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Act.  
CHAPTER IV 
LAND RECORDS AND ARAZI RECORD CENTRES 
14. Preparation of land record .– The Authority shall , in the prescribed manner,  
prepare, amend and keep the land record.  
15. Documents included in  land record s.– The Authority shall specify the 
documents forming part of record -of-rights which are to be computerized, and such 
computerization shall be done in such form and manner as may be prescribed. 
16. Presumption in favour of land re cords.– The land record s including the 
computerized land records manage d and maintained  by the Authority  shall be 
presumed to be true until the contrary is proved or a new entry is lawfully substituted 
therefor.  
17. Arazi Record Centres.– (1) The Authorit y shall establish one or more Arazi 
Record Centres in each tehsil and may also designate any place or facility notified as 
such to provide such services as may be prescribed.  
 (2) The Authority may establish offices or deploy human resource for the 
transmission of land records maintained by any other body established under law. 
18. Mutation Fee and Charges.– (1) The Authority may levy such fee or charges 
for provision of services as may be prescribed. 
 (2) The Authority may collect on behalf of the Governm ent, authorities or 
other entities, such fee and charges as may be pre scribed and  shall transfer the 
amount so recovered to the Government or, as the case may be, to the authorities or 
other entities.  
CHAPTER V 
APPEAL, REVIEW AND REVISION 
19. Appeal, Review and Revision.– The provisions of Chapter XIII of the Punjab 
Land Revenue Act , 1967 (XVII of 1967) shall mutatis mutandis apply to an a ppeal, 
review or revision filed in respect of the Land Records prepared under this Act.  
20. Correction and Updation of the Land Records.– Any correction or updation 
required to be incorporated  in the  Land Records shall be made and incorporated  
under the orders of relevant authorities  and in the manner  provided under different 
enactments, rules and regulations relating to the correction and updation of the land 
records, promulgated, approved and issued by the Competent Authorities  as 
envisaged under the relevant provisions of the law, rules and regulations related to 
Land Records. 
CHAPTER VI 
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 
21. Fund.– (1) The Authority shall establish a F und to be known as the Punjab 
Land Records Authority Fund which shall vest in the Authority.  
(2) The Fund shall consist of: 
(a) budgetary releases from the Government;  
(b) grants made by the Government; 
(c) moneys received from the Federal Government or any other agency by 
way of grants; 
(d) donations by persons or association of persons;  
(e) fees or charges collected and profits earned by the Authority;  
(f) all other sums which may in any manner become payable to or  vested 
in the Authority; and 
(g) revenue from any other source.  
 (3) The Authority shall keep, maintain and spend the Fund in the 
prescribed manner. 
 (4) In case of any surplus amount in the Fund, the Board may invest any 
amount in such manner as may be prescribed. 
22. Budget.– The Director General shall prepare  or cause to be prepared  the 
annual budget co nsisting of the expected income and expense for the ensuing 
financial year and submit it to the Board, in such form and manner as may be 
prescribed, for approval.  
23. Accounts and A udit.– (1) The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and 
other records relating to its financial affairs including, its income and expenditure and 
its assets and liabilities in such form and manner as may be prescribed. 
 (2) After the end of a financial year, the Authority shall prepare the 
statements of account which shall include a balance-sheet and an account of income 
and expenditure during the last financial year.  
 (3) The Authority shall maintain on regular basis a li st of all its assets till 
the date of closing of the financial year. 
 (4) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit the accounts of 
the Authority. 
 (5) The Government may, in addition to the audit under subsection (4), 
cause the accounts of the Authority to be annually audited by a Chartered 
Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants and , at any time, appoint a Chartered 
Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants, to conduct an additional external 
audit of the accounts of the Authority and submit its report to the Government. 
 (6) The Authority shall produce all books of accounts and documents and 
furnish such explanation and information as an auditor may require for purposes of 
audit. 
24. Bank Accounts .– The Authority may open and maintain its accounts in a 
scheduled bank as may be prescribed, and until so prescribed, as the Authority may 
determine. 
CHAPTER VII 
MISCELLANEOUS 
25. Public servants .– The Chairperson, members, Director General, Additional 
Directors General, employees and other pe rsons authorized to perform any function 
under this Act or render services to the Authority as agents, advisors or consultants 
shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning s of section 21 of the 
Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
26. Indemnity.– No prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against 
the Authority, Chair person, members, Director General, employees and other 
persons authorized to perform any function under th is Act or render services to the 
Authority as agents, advi sors or consultants for anything done in good faith for 
carrying out the purposes of the Act, rules or regulations.  
27. Directions by the Government .– The Government may , from time to time,  
give such directions relating to policy matters to the Authority and the Authority shall 
implement the directions. 
28. Act to override other laws .– The provisions of th is Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law.  
29. Rules.– The Government may, by notification in the off icial Gazette, make 
rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
30. Regulations.– Subject to th is Act and the rules, t he Authority may frame 
regulations to give effect to the provisions of the Act.  
31. Succession.– (1) On notification of the Authority; 
(a) all assets and properties in possession of  the P MU shall stand 
transferred to the Authority; 
(b) all the Arazi Record  Centres established for the land records by the 
PMU shall be deemed to have been established as Arazi Record 
Centres under this Act; 
(c) the land record s prepared and maintained by the  PMU shall be 
deemed to have been prepared and maintained under the Act; 
(d) all suits and other legal proceedings instituted by or against  the PMU 
before its dissolution shall be deemed to be suits and proceedings by 
or against the Authority;  
(e) notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or policy for the 
time being in force, all persons presently working in the PMU and at all 
Arazi Record Centres shall be deemed to be the employees of the 
Authority on the terms and conditions contained in their contracts, and 
shall be adjusted against positions created in the Authority, in the 
manner prescribed; and 
(f) Assistant Director s Land Records and Land Record Officer s 
sanctioned in the Directorate of Land Records, Punjab shall stand 
transferred to the Authority on the same terms and conditions as 
envisaged in their contracts and shall be deemed to be adjusted 
against the positions created in the Authority and shall be eligible for all 
benefits in A uthority available for similar or  equal posts in the manner 
prescribed. 
 (2) All orders, notifications, instructions or standard operating procedures 
in force pertaining to or in any way concerned with or affecting the PMU immediately 
before the establishment of the Authority , shall, so far as they are not inconsistent 
with any of the provisions of th is Act, continue to be in force until superseded by the 
rules or regulations. 
 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Punjab Rented Premises Act, 2009 
(VII of 2009), all the immovable properties including any site or  building obtained on 
rent for purposes of the PMU shall be deemed to have been obtained in the name of 
the Authority, and the Authority shall be deemed to be the tenant of such premises 
and shall be liable to make payment of the agreed rent in terms of the relevant 
agreement. 
32. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to or applying 
the provisions of th is Act or the rules, the Government may , within two years,  make 
such order,  not inconsistent with the Act or the rules, as may be necessary  for 
removal of such difficulty. 
33. Repeal.– The Punjab Land Records Authority Ordinance, 2016 (XVIII of 
2016) is hereby repealed.