Birth registration fee being abolished permanently across Punjab

The Punjab government is preparing to permanently abolish the birth registration fee for children across the province. The proposed decision is expected to provide significant relief, especially to low-income and middle-class families.

Government officials said the main purpose of the plan is to ensure that every child receives a legal identity immediately after birth. The move also aims to make the civil registration process easier and more accessible for citizens.

Officials said removing the registration fee will reduce the financial burden on parents. It will also help authorities maintain accurate, complete and timely birth records across Punjab.

According to sources, the Punjab Local Government Department has sent an important summary to the provincial cabinet seeking approval for the permanent abolition of the birth registration fee. The summary recommends ending the fee for registering the birth of every child throughout the province.

Officials believe the decision will especially benefit families who could not register their children on time because of financial difficulties. They said easier access to registration will help more children obtain legal documents at an early stage.

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Last year, the Punjab cabinet approved a temporary one-year exemption from the birth registration fee to provide public relief. The government is now planning to make that relief a permanent policy.

Sources said the summary has completed the approval process in the office of the Punjab Chief Secretary. It has now been sent to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for a final decision before being presented to the provincial cabinet.

If the provincial cabinet approves the proposal, the government will issue an official notification to implement the policy. Officials are hopeful that the decision will significantly increase the number of registered births across Punjab.

Making birth registration permanently free could encourage more parents to register their children without delay. Better registration will also help improve public records and make it easier for children to access government services in the future.