ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched a new Birth Notification Tool to streamline the process of registering newborns and obtaining legal identification, officials said.
Under the system, parents will receive an SMS notification immediately after a child’s birth in hospitals or medical centers, helping expedite the official registration process. NADRA spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali explained that in many developed countries, legal identity registration begins at birth, whereas in Pakistan the process traditionally started with delays.
“To address this, NADRA has partnered with both public and private hospitals to roll out the Birth Notification System,” he said. “Parents receive an SMS immediately after birth, which later assists in registering the child at the local Union Council.”
The registration process begins with obtaining the Birth Certificate at the Union Council, which is required for all subsequent government registrations. Parents can complete the procedure using their own CNIC and the hospital-issued birth slip or SMS notification.
Residents of Sindh and Punjab can also use the ‘Pak Identity’ mobile app for online registration, while the service is being gradually expanded in Balochistan and pending approval in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
NADRA officials said the Child Registration Certificate (CRC), commonly known as the ‘B-Form,’ is mandatory following Union Council registration. Children under three years of age do not need to visit a NADRA center in person, while those over three will require a photograph and biometric data.
The CRC has been divided into three stages:
Children under 3 years: CRC valid for 3 years
Children aged 10 years: Biometric data becomes mandatory
At age 18: CRC expires; National Identity Card must be issued
The so-called ‘Juvenile Card’ is essentially a card version of the B-Form and holds the same legal status as the CRC. It can be issued to educational institutions or other organizations upon request.
Parents can obtain the B-Form by first collecting the birth certificate from the Union Council, then visiting the nearest NADRA center with their CNICs and the child. Alternatively, the process can be completed online through the Pak Identity app.
NADRA has also provided instructional videos on its YouTube channel to guide citizens on using the CRC system and mobile app services.
