RAWALPINDI: The over 100-year-old land record office in Rawalpindi tehsil, located on Jinnah Road—commonly known as City Saddar Road—has been renovated and reopened to offer improved facilities to citizens under a new one-window operation system, according to a newspaper report.
Officials said the Punjab government has upgraded the land registration centre by introducing a digital system for property-related services. Under this system, citizens will no longer have to wait long hours for property registration and ownership transfers.
A new one-window operation centre has also been launched at the Raja Bazaar Tehsil Property Registration Office to speed up the registration process for both urban and rural properties, completing transactions within 15 to 20 minutes.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema told Dawn that the Raja Bazaar Tehsil Office had been modernised to ensure smooth public dealings. He said the office had been declared a model tehsil office, and similar facilities were being replicated across the division.
According to a newspaper report, the upgraded centre handles property registrations, powers of attorney, inheritance transfers, and property gifts to family members—all through a digital platform. An information desk has been set up to help citizens register or transfer their properties.
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All officials, computer operators, and support staff now work under one roof to assist citizens with residential and commercial property transactions.
Officials said property buyers and sellers are required to book appointments online before visiting the tehsil office. Appointment details and token numbers are sent to applicants via WhatsApp. The Qmatic system issues automatic updates and reminders to ensure timely attendance and smooth service.
Visitors first report to the reception for biometric verification. After document checks at the next counter, the sub-registrar confirms payment to the seller. The process ends with a joint photograph of the buyer and seller and signatures by the sub-registrar.
The renovated building offers air-conditioned halls, separate waiting areas for men and women, a dedicated counter for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and clean drinking water facilities. The Bank of Punjab has also set up a counter for fee collection, while CCTV cameras ensure security.
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A special room has been arranged for senior citizens, and wheelchairs are available for differently-abled visitors. A machine installed in the centre scans the token code received through the mobile app.
Dr Cheema said the Punjab government had instructed deputy and assistant commissioners to regularly visit tehsil and registrar offices to monitor revenue-related matters. Commissioner Aamir Khattak has directed other districts—Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Murree—to adopt this model.
He added that proper seating arrangements, help desks, and complaint registers have been provided to make the centre more citizen-friendly. Service delivery time has been reduced to 15 to 20 minutes to ensure maximum facilitation.
“The staff has been trained to treat every citizen with respect and to ensure quick and transparent service,” Dr Cheema said. The walls of the centre have been decorated with old photographs of the garrison city.
