The Lahore Property GuideCosts and tax
DC value vs FBR value vs market value: what is the difference?
By Adil Builders · Updated 25 September 2026
You agree to buy a plot for Rs. 2 crore. The government may calculate its taxes and duties on a different number. Understanding why makes property costs make sense.
The four values
Agreed price. What you and the seller agreed: Rs. 20 million.
DC valuation. The value officially notified by the District Collector. Punjab uses it as the basis for stamp duty, registration fees and other provincial charges.
FBR valuation. FBR's own valuation tables for immovable property, used for federal tax. Lahore has its own tables; FBR records a Lahore revision dated 19 May 2026.
Market value. What similar properties are actually selling for.
An illustration of how far apart they can be:
| Value | Amount |
|---|---|
| Your agreed price | Rs. 20m |
| DC valuation | Rs. 14m |
| FBR valuation | Rs. 16m |
| Market value | around Rs. 21m |
These are made-up numbers to show the idea. The real ones depend on the location and property.
Why government valuations exist
If taxes were always calculated on whatever buyer and seller wrote down, everyone would declare a five crore property as fifty lakh. Government valuations set a framework and a floor. The Punjab Stamp Act says that for specified property documents, the value is decided by the District Collector's valuation table under section 27-A.
Why it changes your cost
Provincial stamp duty uses the DC valuation rules. Federal 236K uses FBR's valuation rules. So you cannot calculate both by multiplying your agreed price by a rate. The base can be different for each.
Never assume DC value, FBR value, market value and sale price are the same number.
Where to check
- DC valuation: PLRA provides a DC valuation service on the PLRA portal, and its e-Stamping system calculates stamp duty from the transaction and property details.
- FBR valuation: FBR publishes its tables at fbr.gov.pk.
For a real purchase, the official challan for your transaction is what counts, not an online calculator.
From Chapter 8, What It Really Costs of Understanding Property in Lahore, built from PLRA, LDA and FBR sources.