CDA has taken significant steps to digitise residential and commercial property records, enabling easier access and management of files through secure online platforms. Staff of Punjab Land & Revenue Authority (PLRA) have scanned millions of pages, creating a comprehensive digital databank that now covers 23,036 residential properties across 47 sectors and model towns, in addition to 5,657 commercial properties including agro farm records. This massive digitisation initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize property management in Islamabad. Following this effort, CDA is preparing to phase out manual property transfers and allotments, starting with a pilot project in Sector D-12, which will serve as a model for expanding the initiative to other sectors in the near future.
Officials explained that the move toward digitisation aims to improve transparency, reduce administrative inefficiencies, and protect citizens from past discrepancies caused by poor record management or fraudulent practices. Historically, some property files were removed or misplaced from official records, creating significant challenges for genuine property owners and buyers. CDA currently manages three main categories of property, including commercial plots, residential plots sold through auctions or balloting, and estate-affectee plots allocated as compensation to individuals whose land had been acquired by CDA for development purposes. Past manual handling of these files occasionally led to disputes when initial allotments were based on forged or incomplete documents, leaving subsequent purchasers in uncertain situations and complicating property transactions.
PLRA official Ijaz Ahmed highlighted that the newly implemented digital system allows all scanned property records to be accessed through a centralized online dashboard. Under the e-filing system, every property transfer will now be tracked digitally, including detailed histories from the first to the last transaction. CDA officials will have full visibility of all property records, allowing timelines, approvals, and movement of files to be monitored efficiently. According to Mr. Ahmed, digitisation reduces opportunities for tampering, misplacement, and other forms of administrative errors while ensuring that citizens can access accurate and verified property information. The system is designed to make property transfers, inheritance processes, and other property-related transactions simpler, faster, and more secure for both residents and authority staff.
CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa confirmed that the project aligns with directives from the prime minister and interior minister to improve service delivery and accountability through automation. He emphasized that the system creates a complete digital trail, recording every action, including approvals, file handling, and the responsible officer at each stage. This capability is expected to strengthen accountability and improve trust in property management systems while significantly streamlining administrative processes. Furthermore, the records of the revenue department of Islamabad Capital Territory, which cover rural land areas, are also being digitised under PLRA supervision. Many revenue estates, or mouzas, have already been incorporated into the digital system, providing a comprehensive and easily accessible framework for both urban and rural property management. Through these initiatives, CDA aims to build a robust, transparent, and modern property management ecosystem that ensures residents can conduct transactions efficiently and with confidence.
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