The Lahore Property GuideThe seller
Buying property through a power of attorney: what to check
By Adil Builders · Updated 25 September 2026
"Owner abroad hai. Us ne mujhay power of attorney di hui hai." You will hear this a lot in Lahore, and power of attorney is one of the most misused ideas in Pakistani property.
A power of attorney (POA) is a document in which an owner authorises someone else to act for them. It can be completely legitimate. But "I have a POA" does not end the conversation. It starts a second round of checks.
You are buying through the attorney, not from them
If Ahmed owns the property and gave Bilal a POA, you are not buying from Bilal. You are buying from Ahmed, through Bilal. So you have to check two things: Ahmed's ownership, and Bilal's authority.
Does this POA cover this sale?
Do not only ask whether a POA exists. Ask whether this POA authorises this sale.
A POA that lets Bilal manage the property does not necessarily let him sell it. What it allows depends on its wording and whether it is legally valid.
The checklist
- Who granted it, and to whom?
- When, and where, was it signed?
- How was it authenticated?
- Is it still valid? Has it been revoked, or has the owner died?
- Does it name this specific property?
- Does it allow sale and transfer, not just management?
- Does it meet the requirements for registering the sale?
Why authentication matters
The Registration Act is specific about powers of attorney used to present documents for registration. Section 32 allows documents to be presented by an authorised agent, and section 33 sets out which POAs are recognised for this purpose and how they must be signed and authenticated. The rules differ depending on whether the owner is in Pakistan or abroad.
Do not accept "bhai, bas stamp paper pe bana hua hai" as proof. How and where a POA was authenticated is the whole question.
Red flags
- The attorney pushes for a large token before you can check the POA.
- You cannot speak to the owner at all, even by video call.
- The POA is old, general, or does not mention sale.
- The price is well below similar plots, for an "urgent" reason.
None of these proves fraud. Each one is a reason to slow down. For any sale through a POA, have a property lawyer check the document before money changes hands.
From Chapter 4, Who Is Allowed to Sell? of Understanding Property in Lahore, built from PLRA, LDA and FBR sources.