A five-member delegation, led by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general, recently visited Dubai to study the real estate practices of the Dubai Land Department (DLD), Dawn has learned.
The LDA aims to adopt effective practices from the DLD to introduce reforms in the real estate sector, particularly in sale/purchase, transfer, and possession of property, to curb fraudulent activities and enhance transparency.
An official highlighted that Dubai’s system is entirely paperless, ensuring 100% transparency in all property transactions.
The LDA has been grappling with significant issues related to property transactions, including sales, purchases, possession, no-objection certificates, departmental reports, fraud, and land grabbing, especially in areas like Johar Town, Mustafa Town, Gujjarpura, Sabzazar, and Garden Town.
Currently, the LDA uses an outdated property transfer system that requires the physical presence of both the seller and buyer. Both parties must sign documents with manual thumb impressions and submit necessary fees through an antiquated challan system.
In contrast, the DLD’s system is paperless, transparent, and foolproof, eliminating the possibility of unlawful and fraudulent activities. Property transfers can be completed remotely via a dedicated application, with no need for sellers or buyers to visit the DLD.
A delegation from the DLD had previously visited Lahore, where they held meetings with senior Punjab government officials and signed an MoU. Under this agreement, the Dubai Land Department offered various services to the government and the LDA to improve their system to match DLD standards.
“The visit we undertook was a follow-up. The DLD system ensures zero fraud chances, with all real estate transactions conducted through an escrow account, thus preventing any malpractice. This system has gained global recognition,” the official explained. He also mentioned that the visit was funded by the DLD. The DLD system also identifies all owners of a property, even if it is divided into multiple parts.
“In the LDA, we may approve a commercial building’s map, but we often lack records of all subsequent owners after the property is divided into shops and flats. This issue is non-existent in the DLD system,” he added. He noted that the DLD had faced challenges in the past but resolved them by enhancing their system, which the LDA has yet to adopt. He emphasized that the government must first amend the old transfer of property act to align with modern requirements. “We are ready to adopt this system, but first, we need to amend laws, rules, and regulations,” he suggested.
GAS: Illegal Connections Disconnected
On Sunday, the SNGPL disconnected 29 illegal gas connections and imposed fines totaling Rs 600,000 for gas pilferage and other illegalities. In Lahore, the SNGPL team disconnected four illegal connections, imposing fines of Rs 0.12 million. In Multan, 12 illegal connections were disconnected, with an additional two for using compressors. The Faisalabad team disconnected three illegal connections, imposing fines of Rs 0.04 million. In Bahawalpur, three illegal connections were cut, along with two for compressor use. In Gujranwala, one illegal connection was disconnected, resulting in fines of Rs 0.19 million. The Sahiwal team disconnected two illegal connections, while in Sheikhupura, fines totaling Rs 0.308 million were imposed for gas theft.
CBD: Visit from Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US
S Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, visited the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) to explore opportunities for attracting foreign investment and strengthening relations between Pakistan and the US. A significant outcome of the visit was the agreement to establish a PCBDDA Punjab NSIT facilitation desk at the Pakistani embassy in Washington.
