Back to your answers

1. What this is

   • This brief was made by Wakeelnama Overseas from your answers. It is not legal advice, and no lawyer has reviewed it.

2. Your answers

   • Who holds or controls the property now? Not answered.
   • What paper do they rely on? Not answered.
   • Where is the property? Not answered.
   • When did you lose possession? Not answered.
   • What do you want? Not answered.
   • Do you live abroad more than 182 days a tax year and hold a Pakistani passport, CNIC, NICOP, POC or OPF card? Not answered.

3. The route

   • Complaint to the Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission
   • You live abroad and a Punjab government office, such as a development authority, revenue office or local government, is holding up your property matter.
   • You picked this route yourself.

4. What it rules out

   • The Commission takes complaints about government offices. It is not a court for a dispute with a private person.
   • While your complaint is under inquiry, no court will hear a case on the same complaint.
   • A complaint on fake or forged papers can bring jail of up to six months or a fine of up to one million rupees.

5. Steps

   • 1. You: Check you count as an overseas Pakistani under this Act: a person of Pakistani origin settled abroad, for good or for now. (s2(k), Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30)
   • 2. You: Check the office you complain about is a Government Agency: a Punjab department, a local government, or a body the government owns or controls. (s2(h), Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30)
   • 3. You: If you have a court case on the same matter, speak to a lawyer first. No court will hear a case on a complaint the Commission is inquiring into. (s17, Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30)
   • 4. Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission: File your complaint on the Commission's online complaint portal from anywhere, or at its helpdesk at 1-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore. The portal asks you to register and sign in, then add the complaint and attach your papers. Keep the complaint ID it gives you to track progress. The Commission's pages name no fee. (Redressal Process, modes of complaint, Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Redressal Process, read 2026-11-13) Time: The Commission says it refers the complaint for redress in a month, with a first response in 7 days. This is the Commission's own target, not a rule in the Act. (Redressal Process, referral).
   • 5. The government office: The Commissioner sends your complaint to the office. The office must answer within thirty days. (s7(2), Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30) Time: The office has 30 days to answer. (s7(2)).
   • 6. The government office: If the Commission recommends a fix, the office must carry it out within thirty days of receiving it. (s15(1), Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30) Time: 30 days to carry out a recommendation. (s15(1)).
   • 7. Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab: If you disagree with the decision, you can make a representation to the Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab, within thirty days. (s16, Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30) Time: 30 days to make a representation. (s16).
   • 8. You: Send only true papers. A complaint on fake or forged papers can mean jail of up to six months, a fine of up to one million rupees, or both. (s14(1), Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission Act 2021, read 2026-10-30)

6. Open points for your lawyer

   • While the Commission inquires into your complaint, no court will hear a case on the same matter. If you already have a court case, speak to a lawyer first.

7. Papers

   • Every paper the complaint needs. The Commission keeps the complaint pending until you send what is missing.

8. Fill in before you send

   • Your name
   • Phone or email
   • Property address
   • Khasra, plot or house number
   • District and tehsil
   • Who holds it, by name