LAHORE: In a major public relief initiative, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the immediate abolition of all fees associated with the registration of births and deaths across the province.
The decision, officially confirmed by the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday, aims to remove financial barriers that prevent low-income families from completing essential civil documentation. The move is part of Maryam Nawaz’s broader agenda to improve public service delivery and streamline access to government records.
“In order to facilitate the people of Punjab, we are removing all charges on birth and death registrations,” she stated. “This will ensure that every citizen, regardless of income, can access basic documentation without unnecessary financial burden.”
Previously, citizens were required to pay fees ranging from Rs200 to Rs1,000 depending on the nature and delay of the registration. These charges often discouraged timely registration, particularly in rural and underprivileged areas.
Officials at the Punjab Local Government Department confirmed that local authorities have been instructed to enforce the new directive with immediate effect. Union councils across Punjab will now provide these registration services free of cost.
The Chief Minister also directed authorities to launch a province-wide awareness campaign to inform citizens about the policy change. Special help desks will be set up in urban and rural areas to facilitate and guide people through the registration process.
Social workers and civil rights groups welcomed the move, calling it a step in the right direction for ensuring civil rights and easing bureaucratic hurdles for the poor. Legal identity documents are essential for accessing health care, education, inheritance, and government welfare programs.
“This will improve Punjab’s civil registration system and help the government collect more accurate population data,” said an official from the Planning and Development Department.
The initiative is expected to particularly benefit remote communities, where documentation remains a significant challenge due to distance, illiteracy, and informal economies.
The Punjab government has also hinted at similar upcoming initiatives aimed at easing access to other public services such as marriage registration, domicile certificates, and land records.
This policy is seen as part of Maryam Nawaz’s people-centric governance approach and her commitment to administrative reform in Punjab.
