use Config::Properties. It is the easiest way that I know.

Code first

use Config::Properties;
use Data::Dumper;
my $propertyFile = new Config::Properties;

  open (FD, "property.properties") or die "Could not open file: !$";
  $propertyFile->load( (*FD) );
  close(FD);

  print Dumper $propertyFile;
[download]

Now a external properties file. save as property.properties

var = value
one = 1
two = 2
oneandone = 2
[download]

HTH - Kristofer