PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will no longer issue or accept physical stamp papers starting September 1, 2025, as the provincial government rolls out a fully digital e-stamping system in a bid to curb fraud and tighten revenue tracking.
A notification issued under the Registration Act of 1908 confirms that only e-stamped documents will hold legal validity for property transactions, court fees, and other official purposes. After the September deadline, manual stamp papers will be completely phased out, with revenue routed directly through the Bank of Khyber into the provincial treasury.
Why the Shift Matters
Officials say the move is designed to eliminate a decades-old system that has become increasingly vulnerable to counterfeiting. The reform aligns with a broader digital governance push, promising faster service delivery and improved transparency.
Registrars and relevant authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce the transition, with no exceptions after the rollout.
Triggered by a Major Stamp Paper Scam
This policy overhaul follows a high-profile fraud scandal in Chiniot, Punjab, where investigators uncovered a racket converting low-value stamps—worth Rs200 to Rs1,500—into fake stamps valued at Rs15,000. The scam involved dozens of forged court submissions, including:
- 36 fake filings in the court of Civil Judge Umar Farooq
- 22 in Chaudhry Fayaz’s court
- 19 in Shazia Kausar’s courtroom
- 16 in Additional District and Sessions Judge Javed Iqbal’s court
Officials estimate millions of rupees were siphoned off through the scheme.
Digital Stamps Seen as a Long-Term Fix
Authorities believe that e-stamping will not only prevent similar fraud but also streamline revenue collection by cutting out intermediaries. “This is about securing provincial income and restoring confidence in public record systems,” a senior government source said.
With Punjab already piloting e-stamping, KP’s adoption signals a nationwide trend toward digitizing legal and financial documentation.
