The Punjab government has announced that newborns will now be registered with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on the day of birth. Under this initiative, all children born in public and private hospitals across the province will receive immediate registration in collaboration with the Health Department and NADRA, aiming for faster and more efficient documentation.
The system is designed to eliminate delays and ensure that every child receives a Child Registration Certificate (B-Form/CRC) immediately after birth. NADRA stressed the importance of the B-Form, which is required for obtaining passports, registering for board examinations, and completing other legal formalities.
Parents must provide a valid National Identity Card (NIC) or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) along with proof of birth issued by the local union council. For children under three years, biometric data or photographs are not required. For ages three to ten, a photograph and, where possible, an iris scan will be mandatory, while children aged ten to eighteen will need fingerprints, photographs, and iris scans. Each child will be issued an individual CRC with a specified validity period.
The B-Form can be obtained through two application options. The standard application has a fee of Rs 50 and a processing time of seven days, while the executive application costs Rs 500 and is processed within one day. This streamlined approach is expected to improve birth registration efficiency and provide timely access to essential documentation for children across Punjab.
