Rawalpindi:
The Punjab Department of Local Government has simplified the laws of family records, birth and death certificate and their registration.
The registration period for birth and death has been extended and birth registration for children up to seven years will now be free – this offer is valid until 31 May 2026.
The authority to deal with delayed registrations has been moved from junior staff to senior officers, including assistant directors.
The requirement for a court decree for late registration has been abolished. Following the approval of the Law Secretary and the Secretary of the Local Government, the new rules are officially notified in Punjab Gazette. According to the message, birth and death registration will be completely free within the first year. After seven years, a birth registration fee of RS200 applies.
For overseas Pakistanis, the fee will be RS1,000; For Foreigners, RS2,000. The death registration fee after seven years will be RS1,000.
Fees for corrections and changes will be RS500 and duplicate copies cost RS200. The fee for computer copies has been abolished.
The new rules that are immediately with effect are aiming to make registration processes more accessible and user -friendly.
The updated rules determine that registration of children up to one year old will fall under the authority of the relevant trade union council secretary, while children up to seven years will be under Assistant Director’s Jurisdiction.
Registrations for the over seven years will be handled by the Deputy Director. Previously, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) developed a mobile application to facilitate online registration of births, deaths and changes in marital status.
The app, originally launched in Punjab, allows citizens to register life events from home.
Biometric verification is made available at all union councils in the province.
