Sindh abolishes death certificate fees — what you need to know
In a significant move for public service reform, the Sindh cabinet has approved the abolition of all fees for death certificates across the province. The decision is part of a broader strategy to bolster the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system and ease administrative burdens on citizens. This explainer outlines the key details of the new policy.
The core decision: What has changed?
Chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the provincial cabinet has waived the registration fee for death certificates at the municipal, union council, and town committee levels.
Sindh Chief Minister @MuradAliShahPPP presided over a cabinet meeting at the CM House. pic.twitter.com/P2rIRjdGle
The Sindh government will now directly cover NADRA's service charges. This comprehensive approach ensures that citizens can obtain an official death certificate completely free of charge.
Why eliminate the fees?
Official statements cite two primary motivations behind the policy:
Citizen Facilitation: The government aims to remove financial and procedural hurdles for families during a time of bereavement. CM Sindh stated 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 enhance the province's CRVS system, ensuring more accurate and complete record-keeping for vital life events, which is fundamental for effective governance and public planning.
This policy builds on a consistent governmental effort to modernise civil registration. It follows the cabinet's September 2024 decision 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 outlined below:
Online Application Process (General Steps)
While specific requirements may vary by local council, the process typically involves:Gather Documentation: Prepare the necessary documents, which typically include the initial medical certificate of death and the National Identity Cards (NICs) of the legal heirs.
Access the Portal: Navigate to the online service via your local Union Council's official website or the NADRA portal.
Complete the Digital Form: Accurately fill out the online application with the deceased's and the applicant's details.
Upload Scanned Documents: Attach clear, scanned copies of all required paperwork.
Undergo 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 fee abolition was one of several key decisions made in the recent cabinet session. Other notable measures included:
The cabinet approved significant amendments to the Sindh Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act and Rules, 2021. Key changes include:
Removing the classification of a minor heir as a "legal controversy" simplifies the application process.
Ensuring certificates for minors or the mentally disabled only take effect after a formal guardianship is established.
The press release states that key changes remove the clause defining a minor’s presence as a legal dispute. Heirs or their authorised representatives can now file applications with the required documents, while certificates for minor or mentally disabled heirs will only take effect once a guardianship certificate is issued under the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890. False declarations will be punishable under Section 198 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Introducing penalties under the Pakistan Penal Code for false declarations.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated these reforms would create a more "accessible, transparent, and people-friendly" system to protect the rights of all legal heirs.
Surrender policy for riverine bandits:
A formal surrender policy for dacoits in the riverine (Katcha) areas of Sukkur and Larkana divisions was approved. The policy, prompted by successful security operations and community negotiations, establishes a framework for disarmament and reintegration. Its main features include:
Mandatory disarmament.
Protection for families of surrendering dacoits.
Rehabilitation support, including access to education, healthcare, and vocational training.
Reviving development projects in the region to sustain peace.
Wheat release policy to stabilise 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 tyre-burning plants:
In a move to combat severe air pollution, the cabinet imposed a complete ban on tyre pyrolysis plants across the province.
Firms involved in this business have been ordered to cease operations within one month. The decision was based on findings that these plants release toxic pollutants, significantly contributing to Karachi's poor air quality.
Earlier in April 2025, NADRA announced a new mobile application for registering life events, initially launching in Punjab. This underscores a wider, nationwide shift towards digitising and streamlining civic registration services.