The Punjab Local Government Department has officially completed legislation aimed at improving the birth and death registration system across the province.
The updated rules and regulations have been notified in the Punjab Gazette, bringing much-needed reforms to the outdated registration process.
Under the new framework, birth registration from birth up to seven years of age will now be completely free.
The responsibilities for registration have been clearly delegated:
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Birth registration up to one year of age will be handled by the secretary of the respective union council.
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Registrations between one and seven years will fall under the assistant director's purview.
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For individuals above seven years, the deputy director will oversee the registration process.
In a major relief for citizens, the requirement of obtaining a court decree for late registration has been abolished. However, if the delay exceeds seven years, applicants will be required to publish a newspaper advertisement to validate their claim. Additionally, a registration fee will be applicable for cases beyond the seven-year limit.
The government says these reforms aim to simplify documentation, reduce legal hurdles, and ensure timely registration of vital records.
