Lal Jan collapsed before the process could be completed.
A Pakistani man visiting a government registration office in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab province, suffocated to death.
He collapsed due to a packed, stifling environment with no ventilation or relief from the heat.
The man was identified as Lal Jan, a resident of Shah Jamal and a heart patient.
He had gone to the local property registration branch to complete formalities for transferring his property.
His brother, aware of Lal Jan’s condition, pleaded with officials to expedite the remaining process.
Only the statement-taking remained, which was a simple procedural step.
However, Lal Jan began struggling to breathe as he waited in the overcrowded, suffocating space.
According to onlookers, there were no fans or proper airflow in the room, and no shade outside for the long queue of applicants.
As a result, Lal Jan collapsed before the process could be completed.
By the time help arrived, he had passed away.
The scene triggered outrage, with dozens protesting and pointing out the office’s chronic lack of basic amenities.
Despite being a high-revenue branch handling property registrations worth millions every day, it lacked even the most essential facilities.
There was no clean drinking water, no shaded waiting areas, and no ventilation in rooms where people were made to wait for hours.
The registrar of the office, Jam Aslam, confirmed that large crowds are normal and suggested that Lal Jan died of a heart attack.
He added that an investigation is underway, and action will be taken if any negligence is established.
Deputy Commissioner Usman Khalid took notice of the incident.
He directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Usman Bukhari, to submit a full report.
Meanwhile, people at the scene expressed disbelief at the state of affairs, especially during a government-issued heatwave warning.
They criticised the district administration, accusing it of negligence and complicity.
One applicant asked: “If this is how they run their own departments, how can they ensure public safety elsewhere?”
Many said the registration office is overloaded every day, with more than 100 registration cases processed regularly.
Still, no effort has been made to improve conditions. Citizens pay significant fees, they argued, and deserve humane treatment.
The incident has spotlighted a troubling reality: high-revenue public offices that neglect human dignity and safety in their daily operations.
As Lal Jan’s family mourns, many worry there will be more cases like this if nothing changes.
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