Punjab: Preparations to abolish birth certificate registration fee

LAHORE: The Punjab government has prepared to permanently make birth registration of children free across the province, which is likely to provide great relief to citizens, especially the poor and middle class.

According to government officials, the main objective of this move is to provide legal identity to every child immediately after birth and to make the civil registration process easier for citizens.

Officials say that the abolition of registration fee will reduce the financial burden on parents while also helping in compiling accurate, complete and timely records of children’s births.

Sources say that the Punjab Local Government Department has sent an important summary regarding the permanent abolition of birth registration fee to the provincial cabinet for approval, which recommends that the fee imposed on birth registration of children across Punjab be abolished on a permanent basis.

Officials say that this decision will especially benefit those families who were unable to register their children’s births on time due to financial difficulties.

It should be remembered that last year, the Punjab cabinet had approved a temporary exemption in birth registration fees for only one year in view of public convenience, but now the government is going to make this exemption a part of the permanent policy.

According to sources, the summary has completed the approval process from the office of the Chief Secretary of Punjab and has been sent to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for a final decision. After the approval of the provincial cabinet, a formal notification in this regard will be issued.

Officials have expressed hope that after this decision, the rate of birth registration of children in the province will increase significantly.