Land is often owned by a family together, inherited from parents and shared between brothers and sisters. A very common question about the new Green Property Certificate is what happens when the land is jointly owned, or when one of the owners lives abroad. The good news is that joint and inherited land can be certified. This guide explains how it works for a shared holding, known as a mushtarka khata, the role of a Power of Attorney for overseas owners, and how to get it right.

Key Takeaways

• Joint owners of a shared holding can apply for a Green Property Certificate, and in practice the written consent of all the co-owners is required. The PLRA does not publish a separate rule sheet for joint holdings, so confirm the exact requirement for your khata at your Arazi Record Center. Official PLRA process
• Every co-owner does not need to be physically present, but their documented consent is required, or the land must be formally partitioned first.
• There are two paths: partition the land (Takseem) so each owner gets a separate certificate, or certify one shared holding with everyone’s written consent.
• For overseas owners, a properly executed and attested Power of Attorney is normally used to authorise a trusted person in Pakistan to act on their behalf.
• The certificate is tied to NADRA biometric verification, and the fee is PKR 950 per parcel. (source)

Can Joint or Inherited Land Be Certified?

Yes. Both sole owners and joint owners are eligible. For a jointly owned holding, the certificate can be issued with the mutual consent of all the co-owners listed on the record. This is how Arazi Record Centers handle shared khatas in practice, so confirm your own case at the counter before you apply. This is especially valuable for families and for overseas Pakistanis, because a certified, state guaranteed record means the property cannot be quietly tampered with while the owners are away.

Two Paths for Shared Land

When land is held jointly, you have two clear options:

1. Partition first (Takseem). The joint holding is formally divided so each owner has their own separate parcel. This is recorded as a mutation of partition, which needs the written consent of all co-owners or a direction from the court. After partition, each owner can obtain an independent Green Property Certificate for their own share.

2. Certify the shared holding with consent. If you do not want to partition yet, the certificate can be issued for the shared holding, but the written consent of all the co-sharers listed in the record is required. The co-owners do not all need to be physically present, but their consent must be properly documented.

What About Overseas Owners? Power of Attorney

Many Pakistani families have one or more owners living abroad. In that case, the standard instrument is a Power of Attorney (POA), which authorises a trusted person in Pakistan to deal with the land on the owner’s behalf. For a POA executed abroad to be accepted in Pakistan, it usually needs to be:

• Attested by the Pakistan Embassy or High Commission in the country where it is signed, and
• Then verified in Pakistan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant office.

The POA should clearly authorise dealing with land records, transfers and applications, and it should clearly identify the property with its khasra or khewat details.

The Biometric Step

The Green Property Certificate is linked to NADRA biometric verification, which is what makes it hard to forge. This means the person who physically applies at the Arazi Record Center must complete a biometric check. If an owner is overseas and not travelling to Pakistan, this is normally handled by appointing a trusted attorney inside Pakistan through the POA, who then completes the process. Because the system is new, it is wise to confirm the exact Power of Attorney wording and requirements with the specific Arazi Record Center handling your district.

Common Family Situations

• Land inherited from parents, shared by siblings. Either partition it so each sibling gets a separate certificate, or certify the shared holding with everyone’s written consent.
• One owner lives abroad. The overseas owner gives an attested Power of Attorney to a trusted family member in Pakistan, who acts on their behalf.
• You want to deal with your own share only. A co-owner can deal with their own share, though the other co-owners may have a first right to buy, known as pre-emption. Certifying the record first makes any future step cleaner.

How Jungle Dunia Helps

At Jungle Dunia we deal in documented agroforestry farmland and verified plots near Lahore and in District Kasur, and we regularly guide families and overseas buyers through exactly these situations. Our team can help you understand whether to partition or certify jointly, what your Power of Attorney needs to say, and what the next step is. For the full process, fee and deadline, see our complete Green Property Certificate guide and our step by step application guide, or contact us with your district and property details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can jointly owned land get a Green Property Certificate?
Yes. Joint owners can apply with the written consent of all the co-owners on the record, or they can partition the land first so each owner gets a separate certificate.

Do all co-owners have to be physically present?
No. Every co-owner does not need to be present, but their documented written consent is required if you certify the shared holding without partitioning it.

What is Takseem or partition?
It is the formal division of a joint holding so each owner has a separate parcel. It is recorded as a mutation of partition and needs the written consent of all co-owners or a court direction.

I live abroad. Can I still get my land certified?
Yes. You can give a properly attested Power of Attorney to a trusted person in Pakistan to act on your behalf. The POA is usually attested by the Pakistan Embassy or High Commission and then verified in Pakistan.

Will a Power of Attorney be enough on its own?
The POA authorises someone to act for you, but the certificate also involves NADRA biometric verification, so a person must appear at the Arazi Record Center. Confirm the exact requirements with the ARC handling your district, as the system is new.

How much is the fee for joint land?
The fee is PKR 950 per parcel, the same standard rate. If you partition into separate parcels, each parcel is charged at the standard rate.

Disclaimer: This guide is general information based on official announcements and reporting available in 2026. Procedures for joint ownership, partition and Power of Attorney can vary by case and can change with government notifications. Always confirm the current requirements with the Punjab Land Records Authority (punjab-zameen.gov.pk), your nearest Arazi Record Center, or a qualified lawyer.