Offices for sale in Lahore are concentrated in Gulberg, the city's central business district, and in commercial areas of major societies; buyers should check the building's approved plan and parking, LDA commercialisation status, separate title for the unit, and the 16% Punjab sales tax that applies to office rent.
Offices for sale in Lahore are concentrated in Gulberg, described as the city's central business district, and in the commercial zones of large societies. Before you buy, check the building's approved plan and parking, whether the plot is lawfully commercial, and how the 16% Punjab sales tax on rent affects your tenant.
Where offices are found in Lahore
| Location type | Typical office stock | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Gulberg CBD and main boulevard | Floors in high-rises, corporate space | Service charges, lift and backup power |
| Commercial roads in older areas | Upper floors over shops | Commercialisation status of the plot |
| Society commercial zones (DHA, Bahria, Johar Town) | Small offices in plazas | Society transfer rules, parking |
Wikipedia describes Gulberg as Lahore's CBD, with high-rises such as Askari Tower, Monal Tower and Indigo Heights, IT businesses and a 3.7 km signal-free main boulevard. It also names Hafeez Center and the CBD Punjab district, built on the former Walton airstrip.
Building rules that affect an office
LDA's building regulations amendments set the frame:
- Parking: one car space per 1,000 sq ft of office or commercial floor area.
- Designated commercial plots (proposed): 7/8 coverage on the ground floor, 3/4 above, FAR up to 1:6.
- Converted commercial plots (proposed): 65% coverage, FAR rising with height to a maximum of 1:8.
- Ramps required in non-residential buildings, at least 4 ft wide.
An office in a building with too few parking spaces for its floor area may have been built beyond its approval. That can block a bank loan or invite LDA action.
Commercial status and enforcement
Many Lahore offices sit on plots converted from residential use. The LDA charges commercialisation fees on designated commercial roads at prescribed valuation rates under the Land Use Rules 2020, Profit reported. The same report described approvals granted on roads not yet eligible for commercialisation.
In June 2026 the LDA sealed 140 properties, including offices, estate offices and banks, for illegal commercial use and unpaid commercialisation fees (ProPakistani). An office in a residential house on a non-commercial street is the highest-risk purchase.
Prices and returns
Houseplot's price files do not cover office units, so we don't publish office price ranges. Value an office on three things: the rent a real tenant will sign for, the service charge, and the floor area the title actually conveys.
The tax side is clearer.
| Item | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer's advance tax (236K) | 1.25% ATL; 10.5% non-ATL up to Rs50m, 14.5% to Rs100m, 18.5% above | FBR |
| Seller's advance tax (236C) | 2.75% ATL; 11.5% non-ATL | FBR |
| Punjab stamp duty | 1% | The News, Apr 2026 |
| Sales tax on office rent | 16% from 1 July 2025 | Pakistan Observer |
| Rent tax for a company landlord | 15% ATL, 30% non-ATL | FBR, section 155 |
For an individual landlord, section 155 slabs start at 5% above Rs300,000 a year of rent and reach Rs155,000 plus 25% above Rs2 million.
The 16% sales tax means a landlord must register with the Punjab Revenue Authority and charge it on invoices; tenants can be made withholding agents (ABS & Co).
Documents to ask for
- Title for the unit: registry, sub-lease or society transfer letter showing the exact floor and sq ft.
- Approved building plan and completion certificate.
- Commercialisation letter and fee receipts, if the plot was converted.
- Paid-up service charge and utility bills.
- Any existing lease, with PRA sales tax invoices.
- The seller's CNIC and, if a company sells, board authority.
Red flags
- Unit area quoted as "gross" with no plan showing net usable sq ft.
- Floors added after the completion certificate.
- No parking allocation in a building that claims full approval.
- A seller who offers "guaranteed rent" without a signed lease.
- Office in a residential house with no commercialisation file.
This guide is general information; confirm current rates with FBR/the bank/a lawyer before you pay.
Sources
- Gulberg, Lahore — Wikipedia — CBD, high-rises, boulevard, Hafeez Center
- LDA Building Regulations amendments — LDA — commercial coverage, FAR, parking, ramps
- LDA uncovers alleged commercialisation fraud in Johar Town — Profit — commercialisation fees, Land Use Rules 2020
- LDA seals another 140 properties — ProPakistani, Jun 2026 — offices sealed
- Withholding Tax Rate Card 2027 — FBR — 236K, 236C, section 155
- Governor signs stamp duty amendment ordinance — The News, Apr 2026 — 1% stamp duty
- Commercial property rent in Punjab to increase after new 16pc taxes — Pakistan Observer — 16% from July 2025
- Punjab imposes sales tax on rental payments — ABS & Co — PRA registration, withholding