NADRA announces free proof of life certificates

In a recent initiative, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has made the Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) free for pensioners and expanded access to the document across Pakistan. This move was prompted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's directives and in coordination with key ministries, including Interior, Defence, and the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

The PoLC, which verifies a pensioner's death, can now be obtained in several ways. The most convenient method is through the PakID mobile application, allowing eligible pensioners to receive the certificate digitally from the comfort of their own homes. An immediate family member can also obtain the certificate on a pensioner's behalf through their own PakID account, provided they pass the prescribed identity verification process.

For those who prefer in-person assistance, more than 5,000 e-Sahulat franchises, 988 Nadra Registration Centres, and 500 Union Councils are offering the PoLC at no cost. These locations provide preferential service to pensioners without the need to wait in regular queues.

For pensioners with limited mobility, Nadra has arranged mobile registration vans, bike services, and ManPack registration services to cater to their needs. This initiative is part of a broader reform to establish a National Pensioners Register. Phase One of this project has already included pensioners administered by the CGA and MAG, providing a digital reference for identity and life-status verification.

Going forward, Nadra aims to daily digitally notify pension controllers of any deaths reported through the Death Notification Tool by health facilities or via the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS). Changes in entitlement, such as age and marital status, will also be communicated daily to pension controllers if reflected in Nadra's records.

A separate verification service for banks will enable them to check a pensioner's proof-of-life status directly through the National Pensioners Register. This digital channel is expected to streamline pension disbursement and lessen the reliance on repeated physical or paper-based verification. Nadra plans to expand the National Pensioners Register in the next phase to include pensioners from various federal and provincial government organizations, public-sector bodies, and private institutions, subject to agreements and institutional arrangements.

The integrated system is designed to simplify proof-of-life requirements for pensioners while providing pension controllers and banks with more current and verified information.