Punjab rolls out same-day birth registration for newborns

The Punjab government on Tuesday introduced a same-day birth registration system that will allow newborns to be registered with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on the day they are born.

Officials said that the Local Government Department has launched an initiative in collaboration with the Health Department and Nadra, aiming at expediting the documentation of newborns and ensuring that the children get their Child Registration Certificate (B-Form/CRC) without delays.

The authorities claimed the system was aimed at eliminating long-standing bureaucratic hassles and would further facilitate early identity registration throughout the entire province. 

Nadra has repeatedly pointed out that the B-Form is required for services like the processing of a passport, school admissions, board examination registration, and various legal procedures.

Parents would need to attach a valid NIC (National Identity Card) or NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis), along with the official birth record obtained from the relevant union council.

Nadra's current regulations regarding the registration of children will not change. There is no requirement for biometric information and photographs for children below three years of age. 

Children between three and ten years must provide a photograph and an iris scan, if possible. For children between ten and eighteen, fingerprints, photographs, and iris scans have to be provided. Every child will be given a separate CRC that will have a specific validity period.

The officials said the same-day system would help create an efficient, transparent, and accessible birth registration process for families across Punjab.