Punjab Launches Pakistan’s First Digital Civil Registration App

By Muhammad Shahzad – Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: In a landmark step toward digital governance, Punjab has launched Pakistan’s first digital civil registration application, the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS) app, under the provincial government’s “Digital Punjab” initiative led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The app, developed by the Punjab Local Government Department in collaboration with NADRA, was inaugurated by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique in a ceremony attended by senior officials, including Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, NADRA COO Syed Abdul Salam, Special Secretary Arshad Baig, DG NADRA Punjab Fiza Shahid, and DG Local Government Ahmed Kamal Maan.

The CRMS app allows citizens to register births, deaths, marriages, and divorces online, integrating directly with NADRA’s database for automatic updates. Notably, the system now provides automatic allotment of Form-B numbers upon e-registration—a first for the country.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Rafique described the app as “an important step” toward realizing the Chief Minister’s digital governance vision. “Citizens can now complete registrations from home, and the data will be updated automatically through NADRA,” he said. Certificates for births, deaths, marriages, and divorces can also be obtained via the app, which he said aligns with international digital standards.

Officials emphasized that the platform ensures transparent and accurate data collection and will eventually expand to cover all union councils across Punjab. Rafique also announced plans for a mobile registration service for remote areas, modeled on NADRA’s outreach programs.

NADRA COO Syed Abdul Salam highlighted that a birth and death notification tool will be added in the next phase, with lady health workers already integrated into the system. Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian called for a province-wide awareness campaign, noting that the digital platform will save citizens from unnecessary office visits and delays, marking a new era in public service delivery in Pakistan.