KARACHI, May 2: The Sindh government has exempted sale and purchase deals in real estate from verification by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and local police stations but renewed such checks on rental agreements in a move believed to maintain record of residents in the city.
An official said the purchase and rental deals in real estate without verification of credentials of buyers or tenants by Nadra were banned by the government in June 2011. The decision was aimed at registration of tenants and people buying properties mainly in urban areas, he said.
“However, the notification was issued for six months and it expired in December last year,” said Sharfuddin Memon, adviser to the home minister.
“Now, the notification has been issued again for an indefinite period that allows the police to keep a check on and record of tenants. The sale and purchase deals have been exempted from such checks this time. The issue may be addressed later,” he added.
The home department notification stated that some real estate agents had been found involved in business deals without getting proper verification of credentials and computerised national identity cards of tenants.
“It may turn detrimental to peace and tranquility and pose serious law and order problems,” it said.
“The government of Sindh is satisfied and convinced, keeping in view the prevalent precarious situation in the country, about an immediate ban on transfer, lease and sale and rental of any plot of land, residential houses without proper verification.”
The tenants’ antecedent checks would also be mandatory with address history, employment history and criminal record, if any. The local police would also carry out the verification while the tenant of the property and the property owner would be held responsible for any illegal act.
According to the new rules, renting out a property for residential purposes without a proper agreement would be considered an offence. Preference should be given to families for the purpose of hiring, discouraging single or unmarried individuals seeking accommodation.
Mr Memon said the notification also defined penalties under the Pakistan Penal Code against people who violated the new rules while making rental deals.
“Those people could face action under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the PPC.
No doubt, it’s a tough job to keep checks on all such deals across the province, but it’s an initiative which would return results in the long run,” he said.
He said the home department would also incorporate more clauses, if needed, in the rules according to the feedback received from the stakeholders and people to enforce the law in an effective manner.
