Look at any DHA Lahore rate list and you'll see the same phase priced several different ways. Allocation, affidavit, intimation, possession. To a first time buyer, especially one buying from abroad, it looks like the same plot at different prices. It isn't. Each label tells you how far along the ownership journey that file is, and the price gap between them is basically the market's way of pricing the risk and the wait. Here's what each one really means.
The journey from file to plot
In DHA, ownership moves through a series of documents. In simple terms:
And affidavit files?
You'll also see "affidavit" files on rate lists. In everyday market use, this generally refers to files that change hands through an affidavit or open transfer arrangement rather than being formally transferred into each buyer's name at every step. Practices and DHA policies on these have changed over time, so if you're offered an affidavit file, ask exactly what document you will receive, whether DHA will register the transfer in your name, and what fees or conditions apply. Don't assume it carries the same security as a file in your own name.
Why the prices differ
The further along the chain, the lower the uncertainty, so the higher the price usually is.
Allocation files are typically cheapest because you don't yet know where your plot will be, when balloting will happen, or when possession will come. You're paying for a place in the queue.
Intimation and numbered plots cost more because you know the exact plot, its location and whether it's on a main road, corner or park facing.
Possession plots with an allotment letter are usually the most expensive because they're ready to build on, rent, or sell to an end user.
None of these is "better" in every case. A long term investor who can wait might like the lower entry price of a file. A family who wants to build next year needs possession. The key is knowing which one you're paying for.
How to use a DHA rate list properly
When you look at our DHA file rates, compare like with like. A possession plot in an older phase and an allocation file in a newer phase aren't the same product, even if they're the same size. Ask three questions for each listing:
- Which document does the seller actually hold?
- Has balloting happened, and is a plot number assigned?
- Is possession given, and is development complete in that block?
Checks before you pay anything
- Verify the file with DHA. Check the file or membership number and the current owner's name through DHA's official channels before paying a token.
- Match the documents. The seller's CNIC should match the name on DHA's record.
- Check dues. Ask whether any instalments, development charges or other dues are outstanding.
- Confirm the status yourself. Balloting and possession timelines for newer phases are often discussed in the market long before they happen. Rely on what DHA confirms, not on what you hear.
- Budget the transfer cost. See our breakdown of what it costs to transfer a DHA Lahore plot in 2026.
If you're buying from abroad, our guide on giving power of attorney online from Saudi or UAE explains how someone in Lahore can complete the transfer for you.
The bottom line
A DHA "file" can mean anything from a claim in a queue to a plot ready for construction. The price tells you part of the story, but the document tells you the rest. Know which one you're buying, verify it with DHA, and match it to your plans. If you want help comparing files and plots across phases, our team works in DHA Lahore every day.
