Property is among the most common sources of dispute in Pakistan, and among the most avoidable. A great deal of the litigation we see would not have arisen had title been properly investigated before money changed hands. We do both sides of that work: the diligence that prevents disputes, and the litigation when one has already begun.
This practice is particularly relevant to overseas Pakistanis, who are disproportionately affected by encroachment, fraudulent transfer and disputes among co-heirs while they are out of the country. We act for a number of such clients and can conduct almost the entire matter under a power of attorney.
What we do
- Title investigation, search and due diligence reports
- Sale agreements, conveyance deeds, gift deeds and transfer documentation
- Development, joint venture and builder-owner agreements
- Lease and tenancy agreements; rent controller proceedings
- Suits for possession, partition, declaration and cancellation of documents
- Injunctions restraining alienation or dispossession
- Encroachment, illegal occupation and recovery of property
- Mutation, registration and record-of-rights corrections
How we work
Matters in this area are handled by senior counsel from first instruction to final order. We give a candid view of the merits at the outset — including where a claim is not worth running — and agree fees before work begins rather than after.
If your matter touches more than one of our practice areas, it will be dealt with by the same team rather than passed between departments.
Common Questions
Property & Real Estate: frequently asked
How do I check that a property in Karachi has clean title?
By searching the record at the relevant registration and land authority, verifying the chain of prior transfers, checking for encumbrances and litigation, and confirming the seller's authority to sell. We provide a written due diligence report before you commit funds.
Someone has occupied my property while I have been abroad. What can I do?
Act quickly. Depending on the facts, remedies include a suit for possession, an injunction, and in some cases a criminal complaint. Delay weakens the position, so take advice as soon as you become aware.
Can I sell or manage property in Pakistan without travelling?
Generally yes, through a special power of attorney executed and attested at the Pakistani mission in your country of residence, then attested in Pakistan. We prepare the instrument and explain the attestation steps precisely.
What is the procedure for transferring property in Pakistan?
A sale is completed by a sale deed executed and registered with the sub-registrar, after paying provincial stamp duty and registration fees and the federal advance taxes on seller and buyer. The transfer must then be recorded in the relevant record: the revenue record through mutation, or the housing authority or society's own register.
What taxes apply when buying or selling property in Pakistan?
Provincial stamp duty and registration fees apply to the deed, and in some provinces a capital value tax. Federally, advance tax is collected from both seller and buyer on the property's value, at higher rates for people not on FBR's Active Taxpayers List. Rates change with each budget, so current figures should be checked before completing.
Enquiries
Discuss a property & real estate matter.
An initial consultation carries no obligation, and we will tell you plainly whether the firm is the right one for the matter.