In a significant move for public service reform, the Sindh cabinet has approved the abolition of all death certificate fees across the province. The decision is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the civil registration and vital statistics (CRV) system and alleviate administrative burdens on citizens. This explainer describes the key details of the new policy.
The central decision: What has changed?
Chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the provincial cabinet has waived registration fee for death certificates at municipal, Union Council and City Committee levels.
The Sindh government will now directly cover the service charges of Nadra. This comprehensive approach ensures that citizens can obtain an official death certificate completely free of charge.
Why eliminate fees?
Official statements cite two main motivations behind the policy:
Citizen Facilitation: The government aims to remove financial and procedural obstacles for families during a time of grief. CM Sindh stated that the initiative is designed to “facilitate citizens and promote digital registration of vital events”.
Read: Death certification fee abolished
System strengthening: The move is a strategic step to improve the province’s CRVS system, ensuring more accurate and complete record-keeping for vital life events, which is critical for effective governance and public planning.
This policy is based on a consistent government effort to modernize the civil registry. It follows the cabinet’s decision in September 2024 to make birth registration free, creating a cohesive, no-cost framework for documenting key life events.
The Sindh government is pursuing this enhanced CRVS framework in collaboration with international partners, including the United Nations.
The application process: how to obtain a certificate
While the certificate is now free, the application process is expected to follow established and increasingly digital channels. The general steps are described below:
Online application process (general steps)
While specific requirements may vary by local council, the process generally involves:
Gather documentation: Prepare the necessary documents, which usually include the initial Medical Death Certificate and National Identity Cards (NICs) of the legal heirs.
Access the portal: Navigate to the online service through the official website of your local union council or the NADRA portal.
Complete the digital form: Accurately fill out the online application with the details of the deceased and the applicant.
Upload scanned documents: Attach clear, scanned copies of all required documents.
Pass biometric verification: Provide fingerprint verification, a standard step for authentication.
Receive the certificate: Upon verification and successful processing, the official digital death certificate will be issued.
Another cabinet business
The abolition of the tariff was one of several key decisions taken at the recent cabinet session. Other notable measures include:
Optimized inheritance process:
The cabinet approved significant amendments to the Sindh Succession and Administration Certificates Act.
Eliminating the classification of a minor heir as a “legal dispute” simplifies the application process.
Ensure that certificates for minors or the mentally disabled only come into effect after formal guardianship is established.
The press release states that the key changes remove the clause defining the presence of a minor as a legal dispute. Heirs or their authorized representatives can now submit applications with required documents, while certificates for minor or mentally disabled heirs will only come into effect once a guardianship certificate is issued under the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890. False statements will be punishable under Section 198 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Introduction of sanctions under the Pakistan Penal Code for false statements.
Prime Minister Murad Ali Shah stated that these reforms would create a more “accessible, transparent and people-friendly” system to protect the rights of all legal heirs.
Delivery Policy for River Bandits:
A formal delivery policy has been approved for Dacoits in Riverine (Katcha) areas of Sukkur and Larkana divisions. The policy, brought about by successful security operations and community negotiations, establishes a framework for disarmament and reintegration. Its main features include:
Mandatory disarmament.
Protection for families of delivery dacoits.
Rehabilitation support, including access to education, health care and vocational training.
Revive development projects in the region to maintain peace.
Wheat release policy to stabilize prices:
To control flour prices and ensure market stability, the cabinet approved the release of 1.265 million metric tonnes of wheat to mills at a fixed price of Rs9,500 per 100kg bag. The phased release is designed to provide public relief and use the proceeds to repay government bank loans.
Complete ban on tire burning plants:
In a move to combat severe air pollution, cabinet has imposed a complete ban on tire pyrolysis plants across the province.
Companies involved in this business have been ordered to stop operating within a month. The decision was based on findings that these plants release toxic pollutants, significantly contributing to Karachi’s poor air quality.
In early April 2025, Nadra announced a new mobile app for recording life events, initially launching in Punjab. This underlines a broader national shift towards digitizing and streamlining civic registration services.
