The Punjab government has discontinued the yellow-coloured e-stamp paper system and introduced a new arrangement under which citizens can print e-stamp papers themselves on plain paper through an online process.
The new system has been implemented from March 10. According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA), the move is part of the government’s ongoing digital reforms aimed at improving public access to services.
Under the previous system, low-value stamp papers could be obtained from vendors who had access to the online system and printed them on yellow paper. High-value stamp papers used for purposes such as property registration, however, were issued only through designated banks.
The spokesperson said some vendors used to charge additional amounts from customers as service charges when issuing stamp papers. Under the newly introduced system, citizens can obtain e-stamp papers of any value by paying the required fee through a mobile application and printing the document themselves on plain paper through the official online portal.
The spokesperson said the new procedure eliminates the need for people to visit banks to obtain e-stamp papers. According to the authority, the system is expected to make the process easier and more transparent for the public. The PLRA spokesperson added that stamp vendors will still be allowed to issue stamp papers, but only up to a value of Rs. 300 under the revised system.