The Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025 has been approved to curb illegal land grabbing and protect citizens’ ownership rights across the province.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting where she announced that all land dispute cases in Punjab will now be decided within 90 days through a Dispute Resolution Committee system.
Maryam Nawaz stated that poor families will no longer have to wait for years to reclaim their land. “In Punjab, no one will be allowed to snatch anyone’s property. For many people, a small piece of land means everything, and the government will stand with them like a mother,” she said.
The chief minister vowed to permanently shut the chapter of land mafias who exploit ordinary citizens.
According to the Property Ordinance 2025, each district in Punjab will have a six-member Dispute Resolution Committee led by the Deputy Commissioner and District Police Officer. The committee will handle all private land occupation disputes before they reach the court.
Appeals against committee decisions will be heard by a special tribunal headed by a retired High Court judge, which must also decide within 90 days.
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During the meeting, it was decided that these committees will become functional within 30 days. Once a decision is made, the land will be recovered from illegal occupants within 24 hours. The provincial government is also considering deploying a special “Para Force” to assist in reclaiming occupied land swiftly.
To ensure transparency, the government reviewed proposals for digital land records and live-streaming of hearings on social media platforms. The initiative marks a major step toward safeguarding citizens’ property rights and ending the long-standing issue of land grabbing in Punjab.
