Property Registrations Resume in Rawalpindi as DC Rates Stay Unchanged

Property Registrations Resume in Rawalpindi as DC Rates Stay Unchanged and Registration Costs Increase

Property registrations have officially resumed across Rawalpindi Division after a month-long suspension, bringing relief to buyers, sellers, and property dealers waiting to complete pending transactions. While the deputy commissioner has retained the previous year’s District Collector (DC) property valuation rates for the 2026-27 fiscal year, increased taxes and registration charges are expected to make property transfers more expensive.

The reopening of registration offices is expected to revive activity in Rawalpindi’s real estate market, although higher government taxes and processing fees may increase the financial burden on property buyers.

Property Registrations Resume Across Rawalpindi

After remaining suspended for nearly a month, property registration services have restarted in Rawalpindi city, cantonment areas, and adjoining tehsils.

Residential and commercial property transfers are now being processed through the official online registration system along with mandatory biometric verification of both buyers and sellers.

According to officials, the suspension of registrations resulted in an estimated government revenue loss of around Rs1.5 billion, highlighting the importance of the property sector to public revenue and the local economy.

DC Property Valuation Rates Remain Unchanged

One of the most significant decisions announced for the new fiscal year is the continuation of the 2025-26 DC valuation rates without any increase for 2026-27.

The decision has been welcomed by many property dealers and market participants, who believe stable official property values will help maintain confidence in the real estate market.

Keeping DC rates unchanged means buyers will not face higher official property valuations when registering properties. However, the total cost of registration is still expected to rise because of revised taxes and government fees.

New Taxes and Registration Charges Increase Costs

Although official property values remain unchanged, the government has revised several taxes and service charges associated with property registration.

The updated fee structure includes:

• Stamp Duty: 1% of the property’s value
• Corporation Tax: 1%
• Cantonment Board Tax: 3%
• Punjab Land Revenue Authority Services Tax: Rs3,800
• Registration Fee: Rs1,000
• Comparison Fee: Rs500

Advance Tax

The revised advance tax rates are:

• 10.5% for non-filers
• 1.25% for tax filers

Capital Gains Tax

The new capital gains tax rates are:

• 11.5% for non-filers
• 2.75% for filers

Additional charges include:

• Property Record Issuance Fee: Rs800
• Express Property Record Fee: Rs3,500
• Mutation Fee: Rs1,100
• Express Mutation Fee: Rs11,200
• Certified Copy of Registered Deed: Rs1,300

Industry representatives estimate that these revised taxes and processing charges could increase registration expenses by Rs30,000 to Rs50,000 for residential properties.

For commercial properties, additional costs may range from Rs50,000 to Rs125,000, depending on the property’s value and applicable taxes.

Biometric Verification Now Mandatory

Authorities have made biometric verification compulsory for every property transaction.

Both buyers and sellers must complete biometric authentication before ownership can be transferred.

Officials say the measure aims to:

• Reduce fraud
• Improve transparency
• Verify the identity of both parties
• Strengthen the digital property registration process

The upgraded online registration system is expected to become fully operational from July 27, allowing registrations to be processed more efficiently.

Property Registration Offices Become Active Again

The reopening of registration services has restored activity across registrar offices and tehsil offices in Rawalpindi Division.

Thousands of pending transactions that were delayed during the suspension are now expected to move forward.

Property dealers, lawyers, buyers, and sellers who had been waiting for registration services are likely to benefit from the reopening.

Property Tax Bills Delayed

While registrations have resumed, the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department has not yet prepared property tax bills for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Officials explained that tax bills could only be finalized after receiving the deputy commissioner’s updated valuation rates.

Since the valuation schedule was issued later than usual, preparation of property tax bills has also been delayed.

According to officials, residential and commercial property owners in Rawalpindi city and cantonment are expected to receive their property tax bills after August 14.

The department has already increased annual property tax rates by 10% to 15% for the current fiscal year.

Registry Officials Transferred Following Complaints

In a separate administrative development, the Rawalpindi district administration has transferred registry clerks and assistant clerks working at registrar offices across the district.

According to the administration, the transfers were ordered after complaints alleging corruption in the property registration process.

The transferred officials have been instructed to hand over their responsibilities immediately, while newly appointed staff are expected to assume charge from Monday.

Authorities have not announced the outcome of any formal investigation, and the allegations have not been publicly proven.

What This Means for Property Buyers

The resumption of property registrations is expected to provide much-needed relief for individuals whose transactions were delayed during the suspension.

However, buyers should prepare for higher registration expenses because of revised taxes and administrative charges, despite unchanged DC valuation rates.

Mandatory biometric verification and improvements to the online registration system are also expected to strengthen transparency and reduce the risk of fraudulent property transactions.

For investors and homebuyers, the latest changes mean that while official property valuations remain stable, the overall cost of purchasing and registering property in Rawalpindi has increased.

Conclusion

The reopening of property registration services marks an important step toward restoring normal activity in Rawalpindi’s real estate market. Retaining the previous year’s DC valuation rates offers stability, but higher taxes and registration fees will increase the cost of property transfers for many buyers.

At the same time, the introduction of mandatory biometric verification and the expansion of digital registration services reflect the government’s efforts to modernize property transactions. As property tax bills are prepared and administrative reforms continue, buyers and sellers are advised to stay informed about the latest regulations before completing any transaction.