Overseas Pakistanis Buying Property Back Home: A Safe Buying Guide

Overseas Pakistanis send billions home every year, and a large share ends up in property. Sadly, overseas buyers are also the favourite target of property fraud. You can’t drive to the society office on a whim, and a relative or dealer is often acting on your behalf. Here’s how to buy safely from abroad.

Pay through proper banking channels

The State Bank of Pakistan’s Roshan Digital Account lets non resident Pakistanis open a bank account in Pakistan online and use it for investments, including property payments. Paying through banks creates a clear record and helps with tax documentation. Never send money to a dealer’s personal account based only on a phone call.

Verify everything independently

• Call the society or development authority yourself using contact details from its official website, not numbers given by the seller.
• Ask the society to confirm the plot number, ownership and dues in writing.
• Check that the society or scheme is approved by the relevant authority.
• Get a trusted person, or a paid independent surveyor, to visit and photograph the plot with a date stamp.

Be very careful with power of attorney

A power of attorney lets someone in Pakistan sign on your behalf. It’s useful, but it’s also a common route to fraud, including by relatives. Keep it as specific as possible: limit it to one property and one transaction, and add an end date. Have it attested through the Pakistani embassy or consulate, and cancel it formally once the job is done.

Use the overseas facilitation desks

Many large societies and authorities have desks or online services for overseas Pakistanis. Use them. They can often verify files and process transfers with less reliance on middlemen.

Taxes and filer status

Property withholding taxes in Pakistan are much higher for people who aren’t on the FBR’s Active Taxpayer List. Ask a tax adviser how the current rules apply to non residents and how your filer status affects you before you buy.

Red flags

• Prices well below the market and pressure to pay today.
• Sellers who won’t let you speak to the society directly.
• Documents shared only as photos on WhatsApp.
• “Overseas quota” plots in schemes you can’t find on any approved list.

The bottom line

Pay through banks, verify directly with the authority, limit any power of attorney, and take your time. Distance is exactly what fraudsters rely on, so slow, careful checks are your best protection.

General information only. Consult a qualified lawyer and tax adviser before any purchase.

Sources

• State Bank of Pakistan, Roshan Digital Account
• Federal Board of Revenue, Active Taxpayer List and tax information