The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a new “Birth Notification Tool” designed to simplify and accelerate the registration of newborns across Pakistan. The initiative activates an instant SMS notification system immediately after a child’s birth, helping parents begin the process of obtaining a legal identity without unnecessary delays.
According to NADRA officials, the Birth Registration System automatically sends an SMS to parents when a child is born at a participating hospital or medical facility. The move aims to strengthen birth registration, improve access to legal documentation, and align Pakistan’s civil registration framework with international standards.
New System Simplifies Birth Registration
NADRA spokesperson Syed Shahbat Ali said the initiative addresses long-standing delays in registering newborns by ensuring that the legal identity process starts at birth. Under the system, the SMS notification serves as an initial record that assists parents in completing registration at the relevant Union Council.
Officials explained that obtaining a birth certificate from the Union Council remains the first and most important step in the process. Parents can use their national identity cards along with hospital records or the birth notification SMS to complete registration requirements.
Expansion Through Digital Services
Meanwhile, NADRA has integrated the facility into the Pak Identity mobile application in Punjab and Sindh, allowing citizens to access services digitally. Authorities are expanding the service to Balochistan, while implementation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa awaits official approval.
After Union Council registration, parents can obtain a Child Registration Certificate (CRC), commonly known as the B-Form. Children under three years of age do not need to visit a NADRA centre, while older children must provide photographs and biometric information.
NADRA also clarified that the Juvenile Card carries the same legal status as the B-Form and offers a convenient card-based format for use in schools and institutions.
