Punjab Birth Certificate Guide 2026: Apply via Dastak and e-Khidmat Markaz

A birth certificate is the first official identity document for a child in Punjab, and parents no longer need to run between offices to get one. Under the Punjab Birth and Death Registration Rules 2025, registration and the computerised certificate are free for up to seven years. Parents can apply through their Union Council, through an e-Khidmat Markaz, or from home through the Dastak doorstep service run by the Punjab Information Technology Board.

Who Issues the Certificate

• Legal registrar: The Union Council, or the Municipal Committee where one applies, is the legal registrar for births in Punjab.
• NADRA role: NADRA does not issue the birth certificate itself; it later uses the Union Council certificate to issue the child’s B-Form.

Fee: Free up to Seven Years

• Free registration: Registration of a birth is free of charge for up to seven years from the date of birth, under the 2025 rules.
• Free certificate: The computerised birth certificate is also issued free of cost within that seven-year period.
• Old fee pages: Some older web pages still show a Rs200 fee, but those figures are superseded by the 2025 free-registration rules.
• Ask before paying: If any counter asks for a payment within seven years, ask what the payment is for and always take an official receipt.
• After seven years: For registrations delayed beyond seven years, a newspaper advertisement and a fee apply, and the case goes to the Deputy Director.

Apply via Dastak from Home

• Doorstep model: Dastak is a doorstep service: a trained facilitator visits your home, collects documents, and delivers the finished document.
• How to book: Book through the Dastak app or the official portal at dastak.punjab.gov.pk, or call the helpline on 1202.
• Facilitator visit: The facilitator collects the required documents at your chosen time and handles processing on your behalf.
• Service charges: The government registration itself is free up to seven years, but a facilitator service charge may apply for doorstep delivery, so confirm the charge when booking.
• Check availability: Doorstep availability varies by district, so check the app or portal for your own area before assuming a home visit.

Apply via e-Khidmat Markaz

• One-window centre: An e-Khidmat Markaz is a Punjab government one-window centre where several departments work from one building.
• Centres and hours: Service guides list 15 e-Khidmat centres, open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and the official site is ekhidmat.punjab.gov.pk.
• Receipt and tracking: You apply at one counter, receive a receipt with a tracking ID, and can follow the application with that ID.

Documents You Need

• Parents’ CNICs: Keep copies of both parents’ CNICs ready, because the Union Council form is built around the parents’ recorded details.
• Hospital slip: For a hospital birth, keep the hospital birth slip, which is the basic proof of the birth.
• Union Council form: Fill the Union Council form completely, with signatures and thumb impression where the form asks for them.
• Home births: For a birth at home, an attested affidavit with two witnesses may be needed, so ask the counter what affidavit wording it accepts.
• Older children: For a child between 61 days and seven years old, a vaccination card, school certificate or hospital certificate may be asked for.

Approval and Delivery Time

• Up to one year: Births of children up to one year old fall under the Union Council Secretary for approval.
• One to seven years: Registrations for children between one and seven years old need approval from the Assistant Director of Local Government.
• Delivery time: A fixed delivery time for the Dastak route is not verified in official sources, and older centre guides quoted around 3 to 7 working days for normal cases, so confirm the expected time when you apply.

Conclusion

Getting a birth certificate in Punjab is now free up to seven years, and parents can choose the Union Council, an e-Khidmat Markaz, or a Dastak home visit. Keep the parents’ CNICs and hospital slip ready, confirm any facilitator charge before booking, and check every detail on the finished certificate. If a counter demands a fee within seven years, ask for the reason in writing and keep the receipt.

FAQs

Is a birth certificate free in Punjab? Yes, registration and the computerised certificate are free for up to seven years under the Birth and Death Registration Rules 2025.

Who issues the birth certificate? The Union Council or Municipal Committee issues it; NADRA later uses it to issue the child’s B-Form.

How do I apply through Dastak? Book through the Dastak app or dastak.punjab.gov.pk, or call 1202, and a facilitator will visit your home.

What documents are needed? Parents’ CNIC copies, the hospital birth slip, and the filled Union Council form are the basic documents.

Is a court decree needed for late registration? No court decree is needed within seven years; for cases over seven years, a newspaper advertisement and fee apply.