Pakistan's Punjab government has said that the famed Kohinoor diamond was given to Britain following an agreement reached with the East India Company in 1849.

A Punjab government official on Tuesday stated this in the Lahore High Court during the hearing of a petition for bringing the Kohinoor back to Pakistan, Dawn online reported on Wednesday.

The official said the diamond could not be brought to Pakistan as it was given to Britain under the "Treaty of Lahore".

The petitioner said a treaty had to be reached between two governments and the East India Company was not authorised to sign such an agreement.

The judge directed the Punjab government's counsel to submit a copy of the agreement with the East India Company and the then rulers of undivided Punjab.

The petitioner said the British rulers had snatched Kohinoor from Duleep Singh.

He asked the court to direct the government, being a member of the British Commonwealth, to bring the famous diamond back to Pakistan.

The Kohinoor diamond, kept under tight security at the Tower of London, is claimed by India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and also Iran.