In a major move towards public service reform, the Sindh cabinet has approved the removal of all fees for death certificates across the province. The move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system and ease administrative burdens on citizens. This explanatory sheet presents the main details of the new policy.
The central decision: what has changed?
Chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the provincial cabinet waived fees for registration of death certificates at municipal, union council and municipal 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 this policy:
Citizen Facilitation: The government aims to remove financial and procedural barriers for families in times of bereavement. CM Sindh said the initiative aims to “facilitate citizens and promote digital registration of vital events”.
Read: Removal of death certificate fees
System Strengthening: The move is a strategic step to improve the province’s CRVS system, ensuring more accurate and comprehensive record-keeping of vital life events, which is fundamental to effective governance and public planning.
This policy is based on a constant government effort to modernize the civil status. This follows the cabinet’s decision in September 2024 to make birth registration free, creating a consistent and free framework for documenting key life events.
The Sindh government is pursuing this improved CRVS framework in collaboration with international partners, including the United Nations.
The application process: how to obtain a certificate
Although the certificate is now free, the application process should follow established – and increasingly digital – channels. The general steps are described below:
Online application process (general steps)
Although specific requirements may vary by local council, the process generally involves:
Gather documentation: Prepare the necessary documents, which usually include the initial medical certificate of death and the national identity cards (CNI) of the legal heirs.
Access the portal: Access the service online via your local union council’s official website or the NADRA portal.
Complete the digital form: accurately complete the online application with the details of the deceased and the applicant.
Upload scanned documents: Attach clear, scanned copies of all required documents.
Perform biometric verification: Provide fingerprint verification, a standard step for authentication.
Receive the certificate: Upon successful verification and processing, the official digital death certificate will be issued.
Other Cabinet Business
The removal of fees was one of several key decisions taken during the recent cabinet session. Other notable measures include:
Simplified inheritance process:
The cabinet approved significant amendments to the Sindh Letters of Administration and Certificates of Succession Act and Rules, 2021. The main changes include:
Removing the characterization of a minor heir as a “legal controversy” simplifies the application process.
Ensure that certificates for minors or the mentally disabled only take effect after formal guardianship is established.
The press release specifies that significant changes remove the clause defining the presence of a minor as a dispute. Heirs or their authorized representatives can now file applications with required documents, while certificates for minor or mentally challenged heirs will only take effect once a certificate of guardianship is issued under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. False declarations will be punishable under Section 198 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Introduce sanctions in the Pakistan Penal Code for false declarations.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the reforms would create a more “accessible, transparent and user-friendly” system to protect the rights of all legal heirs.
Surrender policy for river bandits:
A formal policy of surrender of dacoits in riverine areas (Katcha) of Sukkur and Larkana divisions was approved. This policy, driven by the success of security operations and community negotiations, establishes a framework for disarmament and reintegration. Its main features include:
Mandatory disarmament.
Protection of families of surrendering dacoits.
Support for rehabilitation, including access to education, health care and vocational training.
Relaunch development projects in the region to sustain peace.
Wheat liberalization policy to stabilize prices:
To control flour prices and ensure market stability, the cabinet approved provision of 1.265 million tonnes of wheat to flour mills at a fixed price of Rs 9,500 per 100 kg bag. The gradual release aims to provide relief to the public and use the proceeds to repay government bank loans.
Total ban on tire burning factories:
In a bid to combat severe air pollution, the cabinet imposed a total ban on tire pyrolysis plants across the province.
Companies involved in this sector have been ordered to cease operations within a month. The decision was based on findings that these factories were releasing toxic pollutants, contributing significantly to Karachi’s poor air quality.
Earlier in April 2025, NADRA announced a new mobile application for recording life events, launched initially in Punjab. This highlights a wider shift nationally towards the digitalisation and streamlining of civic registration services.
