Sindh cabinet approves digital property registration for overseas Pakistanis

The Sindh cabinet has approved digital property registration for overseas Pakistanis, transition of the provincial e-stamping system to a local entity, a framework to settle the infrastructure cess dispute and the designation of consumer courts as traffic courts across the province.

As per reports, the meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, also cleared land-use change for the Red Line project, expansion of protected forests in the Indus Delta, restructuring of police jurisdictions, establishment of a fruit and vegetable market in Larkana and ratification of specialised judicial postings.

To facilitate overseas Pakistanis, the cabinet approved the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, presented by the Board of Revenue. Under the proposed law, sale deed execution will be expanded at Pakistani missions and embassies, removing the requirement for overseas Pakistanis to appear physically at registration offices in Sindh.

Verification will be carried out through a Nadra-integrated e-registration system. The mechanism will enable thumb impression and facial recognition at any sub-registrar office or People's Service Centre, regardless of territorial jurisdiction.

The cabinet also approved the transfer of the provincial e-stamping system from the Punjab Information Technology Board to the Sindh Information Technology Company. A five-year master service agreement with SITC has been proposed at a service charge of Rs7 million per month, with a 10% annual escalation.

Planned upgrades under SITC include a mobile application, paperless stamp duty, linkage of stamp issuance with CNICs and introduction of two-factor authentication. The system will also be integrated with entities such as DHA, the Central Depository Company and insurance companies to streamline revenue collection.

To expedite disposal of traffic violation cases, the cabinet approved the designation of consumer courts as traffic courts in every district. The decision follows insertion of a new section in the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2025, allowing specialised and expedited trials of traffic-related offences without creating additional judicial infrastructure.