CDA has started testing a new e-stamp system in Islamabad, linking land record digitization, mobile access and cashless payments to support the Digital Islamabad vision.
E-Stamp Testing Marks New Phase in Islamabad Land Reforms
The Capital Development Authority has begun formal testing of its new e-stamp system, marking a major step toward the full digitisation of land records in the federal capital. Officials describe the initiative as a cornerstone of broader reforms aimed at modernising how property transactions are recorded, verified and processed in Islamabad.
The latest progress was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa. Senior officials from the Islamabad Capital Territory administration and CDA attended in person, while representatives of the Punjab Land Records Authority joined the session via Zoom, reflecting the inter-provincial cooperation behind the project.
Software Complete, Linked with One Link for E-Stamps
Briefing the meeting, officials reported that most stages of the Islamabad e-stamp platform have been completed under the ICT–PLRA agreement. Software development is finished, and the system has now entered its formal testing phase, with the initial rollout linked to the One Link network for digital payments.
In the first phase, non-judicial e-stamp papers will be launched for use in Islamabad. Judicial e-stamp papers are planned to follow once the platform has been fully tested and stabilised. The aim is to ensure that citizens, lawyers, estate agents and financial institutions can purchase and verify e-stamps electronically, without having to rely on manual stamp papers that are more vulnerable to fraud and loss.
Digitisation of Mouzas and CDA Estate Records Nearing Completion
The meeting also reviewed the wider land record digitisation drive underway across the Islamabad Capital Territory and CDA. Officials shared that digital conversion of land records has been completed in twenty-four mouzas so far, while work on the remaining eleven is in its final stages. Once this phase is done, authorities will have a unified, electronic database of land ownership and transactions across the ICT’s rural and peri-urban areas.
Within CDA, scanning of all records under the Estate Wing has been completed, covering files related to plot allotments, lease extensions and transfers. Scanning of Building Control records is currently in progress. After these records are fully scanned and indexed, the next step will be to move toward structured integration so that different datasets can talk to each other and be accessed through a single interface.
Mobile App to Give Citizens Direct Access to Land Records
A key feature of the new system is a mobile application that has been developed to give citizens direct access to their land records. Through this app, property owners will be able to view basic details of their plots, verify ownership, track transfers and confirm whether any charges or encumbrances are recorded against their land.
Officials say the platform is designed to make property verification, mutations, transfers and sale–purchase processes more transparent and secure. By reducing the need for physical file handling and in-person visits, the digital system aims to limit opportunities for tampering, misplacement of records and informal middlemen who often profit from a lack of transparency.
Supporting Digital Islamabad and a Cashless Property Market
Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa described the e-stamp and land record digitisation drive as central to the federal government’s Digital Islamabad vision. By integrating e-stamps with electronic land records and a mobile interface, the initiative supports a gradual shift toward a cashless, documentation-based property market in the capital.
He stressed that secure land records, digital governance and improved service delivery remain top priorities for CDA and the ICT administration. All available resources, he said, are being used to provide citizen-friendly services, cut red tape and build public trust. If implemented effectively, the e-stamp system and linked reforms could become a model for other cities looking to modernise land administration and reduce disputes over ownership and documentation.
