Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has made online payment of property tax mandatory under the provincial budget for fiscal year 2026 27, introducing a major digital reform aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and accountability in tax collection.
Under the new policy, property owners across the province will no longer be allowed to pay property tax through manual or cash-based methods. Instead, all payments will be processed through digital platforms, including online banking and other approved electronic channels.
Officials said the decision is part of the provincial government’s broader plan to modernize revenue management and reduce irregularities in public finances. The move is also expected to limit administrative delays, improve record-keeping and reduce opportunities for corruption in tax collection.
According to the provincial administration, the reform follows the successful implementation of online payments for vehicle token tax, which is already being collected through digital banking channels in Punjab.
The government has also introduced an incentive for taxpayers by offering a 5 percent discount on property tax to individuals who assess their properties through the self-assessment mechanism announced in the budget.
Officials believe that the combination of mandatory online payments and self-assessment will encourage voluntary compliance, make the payment process easier for citizens and strengthen overall revenue collection.
The latest measure is being seen as an important step toward digital governance in Punjab and is expected to significantly change how property tax is assessed, paid and monitored across the province.

Multan | ReNews Pakistan
Multan’s real estate market is witnessing fresh activity as the Multan Development Authority moves ahead with auction plans for commercial and residential plots in various housing schemes.
According to the latest public notices listed by the authority, open auction activity is planned for plots situated in different MDA housing schemes. The move is expected to attract investors, builders and end users looking for legally documented property options in the city.
Real estate observers say official auctions can help bring more transparency to property transactions, especially at a time when buyers are becoming more careful about legal status, transfer procedures and development approvals.
Multan’s property market is also being supported by the growth of planned housing projects. DHA Multan remains one of the city’s major planned communities, with its large scale residential and commercial development continuing to influence investment activity in South Punjab.
Other approved housing societies and new private projects are also contributing to market movement, particularly in areas connected with Bosan Road, Mattital Road, Northern Bypass and other expanding corridors of the city.
Market experts believe that Multan is gradually moving from traditional property buying toward planned urban development. Demand is being shaped by better road connectivity, gated communities, commercial plots, apartment projects and increasing interest from overseas Pakistanis.
However, investors have been advised to verify the legal status of any housing scheme before buying plots or files. Checking MDA approval, layout plan status and ownership documents remains important to avoid investment risks.
Overall, Multan’s real estate sector appears to be moving through a development led phase, where official auctions, approved housing projects and expanding urban infrastructure are expected to remain key drivers of property activity.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The trend of overseas Pakistanis’ investment in Pakistan’s real estate sector appears to be rising again rather than declining. However, the increase remains cautious in nature. Overseas Pakistanis are showing interest in the property market, but full momentum has not yet returned due to concerns over fraud, unapproved housing schemes, possession disputes, taxes and timely completion of projects.
No separate official monthly data is regularly released on overseas Pakistanis’ real estate investment in Pakistan, making it difficult to measure this investment directly in percentage terms. However, if remittances, Roshan Digital Account inflows, government tax relief and property related facilities for overseas Pakistanis are taken into account, investment potential and interest in the sector appear to have increased during fiscal year 2025-26.
According to the figures, remittances from overseas Pakistanis stood at $4.251 billion in May 2026, showing an increase of 20.2 percent on a monthly basis and 15.4 percent on a yearly basis. During July to May FY2025-26, total remittances reached $38.1 billion, which is 9.2 percent higher compared to the same period last year. According to economic experts, the rise in remittances is a positive indicator for the real estate sector, as a major portion of overseas Pakistanis’ savings is generally invested in plots, houses and commercial property.
Improvement has also been witnessed in overseas investment through the Roshan Digital Account. In April 2026, RDA inflows reached a record level of $321 million, while total inflows rose to $12.747 billion. Similarly, RDA inflows during the current fiscal year stood at $2.184 billion, higher than $1.925 billion recorded during the same period last year.
Under the State Bank’s Roshan Apna Ghar programme, non-resident Pakistanis can digitally purchase, construct or renovate a house in Pakistan. Investments made through RDA can also be repatriated abroad, indicating that a formal route for overseas Pakistanis to invest in real estate is active.
On the other hand, the government has also described measures to reduce property taxes and transaction costs in the FY2026-27 budget as important for overseas investment. According to reports, steps such as reductions in withholding tax, capital gains tax and property valuations are aimed at bringing buyers, sellers and especially overseas Pakistanis back towards the real estate market.
However, challenges still remain. The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation has also acknowledged that overseas Pakistanis are interested in real estate due to the potential for higher returns, but many have suffered losses because of fraud and non-completion of projects by developers. This is why scrutiny of housing societies that have an NOC and the required land is being considered.
According to real estate experts, any increase in overseas Pakistanis’ investment depends on trust, legal protection and approved projects. If the government ensures transparent digital records, online verification of NOCs, protection of possession rights and timely delivery of projects, investment by overseas Pakistanis in the country’s real estate sector may increase further in the coming months.