Civil certificates at union councils: Punjab introduces biometric verification

LAHORE: The Punjab government unveiled a biometric verification system on Friday for the registration and issuance of vital documents like birth, death, and marriage certificates at union councils. The objective is to deter fraudulent registrations and foster transparency in the procedure. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique inaugurated the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS), part of the government’s 'Digital Punjab, Transparent Punjab' project.

Co-developed with the Punjab Local Government Department and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), the system mandates biometric confirmation against Nadra's database prior to any certificate issuance. During the inauguration, Rafique affirmed that the initiative intends to deliver transparent and accessible public services by eliminating the issuance of fraudulent certificates.

He clarified that the system will be implemented in stages across all union councils in Punjab, allowing citizens to acquire genuine certificates without needing recommendations or bribes. Rafique commended the efforts of local government department and Nadra teams in implementing the system, stating that it aligns with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's goal of delivering public services directly to citizens.

Moreover, Rafique chaired a meeting at the Suthra Punjab Authority Office to assess sanitation operations in various divisions, including Gujranwala, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Faisalabad. Chief Minister's Focal Person for Suthra Punjab, Asim Mehmood, Local Government Director General Benish Fatima, and municipal officers participated in the meeting via video link.

Umer Javed, Suthra Punjab Authority Director General, briefed the attendees on sanitation initiatives. Rafique emphasized that union council secretaries should monitor cleanliness in their respective villages. He pointed out that due to the smog season, municipal staff would conduct field monitoring, urging citizens to report burning of garbage or crop residues promptly.

Rafique also assigned duties to assistant and deputy directors of local government for field monitoring at the ward level in cities, advising attention to waste accumulation in vacant plots.