NADRA Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) for Pensioners
NADRA’s Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) is now free of charge for all pensioners in Pakistan and can be obtained from home using the Pak-ID mobile app, from any of over 5,000 e-Sahulat franchises, at 988 NADRA Registration Centres, at 500 Union Councils, or through NADRA’s mobile registration vans and door-to-door services for pensioners who cannot travel. The initiative was launched on 21 August 2026 on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, Controller General of Accounts (CGA), and Military Accountant General (MAG).
Background: Five Years in Development, Now Nationwide
NADRA’s biometric verification system for pensioner Proof of Life has been in development since November 2021. The core objective from the outset was to validate pensioner identity through biometric data and eliminate ghost pensioners from the system. Before the August 2026 nationwide rollout, the service operated as a live pilot in Rawalpindi and Islamabad only.
The scale of biometric verifications already processed through this system indicates how active it was even in pilot form. In 2024, the system processed approximately 37.8 million biometric verifications. In 2025, that figure was approximately 25.4 million. The August 2026 launch is the nationwide expansion of a proven system, not a new experiment.
What Is a NADRA Proof of Life Certificate?
The NADRA Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) is an official document that confirms a pensioner is alive and eligible to continue receiving pension payments. The National Database and Registration Authority issues this certificate as part of the formal verification system used by pension controllers and banks to confirm that pension disbursements are reaching living, eligible recipients.
Before this initiative, pensioners were required to visit a bank branch or pension office in person, typically every six months, to complete biometric verification. For elderly, bedridden, and differently-abled pensioners, this requirement created a serious practical barrier. In many cases, fingerprint verification failed due to age-related changes, forcing pensioners to make repeated visits just to confirm what they had already confirmed before.
The PoLC replaces that process with a verified digital certificate that pension controllers and banks can check directly from NADRA’s systems.
Who Is Eligible for the Free PoLC?
All pensioners in Pakistan are eligible for the free Proof of Life Certificate service. The PoLC is particularly intended for:
- Elderly pensioners who find travel to banks or pension offices physically difficult
- Bedridden pensioners who cannot leave home
- Differently-abled pensioners who face access barriers at bank branches
- Pensioners whose fingerprints cannot be verified reliably due to age
Phase 1 scope — CGA and MAG pensioners only: In the first phase, the National Pensioners Register covers pensioners administered by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and the Military Accountant General (MAG). These are civil government pensioners and military pensioners whose pension accounts are managed through these two authorities.
Pensioners of other federal government organisations, provincial government bodies, public-sector institutions, and private-sector organisations will be added in subsequent phases, once the necessary institutional agreements are concluded.
If you are a pensioner under a provincial government or a private employer, the PoLC service applies to you in principle, but the National Pensioners Register connection to your specific pension controller is scheduled for a later phase.
Five Ways to Get the NADRA Proof of Life Certificate
NADRA has made the PoLC available through five distinct channels to ensure access across different mobility levels and digital capabilities.
Method 1 — Pak-ID Mobile App (Recommended for Most Pensioners)
The Pak-ID app is the fastest and most convenient option for pensioners who are comfortable using a smartphone. The certificate is obtained digitally from home, with no travel required.
Verification through the Pak-ID app uses facial recognition and biometric authentication to confirm identity and life status. Once verified, the Proof of Life Certificate is issued digitally and automatically communicated to the relevant pension controller.
Best for: Pensioners who use a smartphone and have a stable internet connection.
Method 2 — Family Member via Pak-ID (For Pensioners Who Cannot Use the App)
A pensioner who is unable to complete the Pak-ID process personally can have an immediate family member obtain the certificate on their behalf. The family member uses their own Pak-ID account and completes the prescribed identity verification process on the pensioner’s behalf.
This provision specifically addresses situations where the pensioner has limited digital literacy, is bedridden, or cannot operate a device independently.
Best for: Elderly or bedridden pensioners with a family member who has a Pak-ID account.
Important: The family member must be an immediate family member and must complete verification through their own account. The specific verification steps are defined within the Pak-ID system.
Method 3 — e-Sahulat Franchise (Assisted Service, Free of Charge)
For pensioners who prefer in-person assistance but do not want to travel to a NADRA office, over 5,000 e-Sahulat franchises across Pakistan offer the PoLC service free of charge. e-Sahulat outlets are typically local shops and service points in residential areas, making them accessible in most towns and urban neighbourhoods.
Best for: Pensioners who are mobile but prefer assisted service or have limited digital access.
Method 4 — NADRA Registration Centres and Union Councils (Priority Service)
Pensioners can also obtain the Proof of Life Certificate at:
- Over 988 NADRA Registration Centres across Pakistan
- Approximately 500 Union Councils
At both locations, pensioners are being provided preferential service, meaning they do not have to wait in the regular queue. This priority arrangement is designed to reduce the physical effort required from elderly citizens.
Best for: Pensioners who prefer a formal NADRA office setting or who need additional in-person support.
Method 5 — NADRA Mobile Services (For Pensioners Who Cannot Reach a Service Point)
For pensioners with very limited mobility who cannot reach any of the above service points, NADRA has extended the PoLC service through:
- Mobile Registration Vans
- Biker services
- Man-pack registration services
Best for: Bedridden pensioners, those in rural or remote areas, and those in care homes or hospitals.
Before and After: What Changed for Pensioners
Understanding what this initiative replaces helps clarify how significant the change is.
| Verification Step | Before August 2026 | After August 2026 |
| Where to go | Bank branch or pension office in person | Home (Pak-ID app), e-Sahulat, NADRA centre, Union Council, or mobile van |
| Geographic coverage | Rawalpindi and Islamabad only (pilot phase) | Nationwide across Pakistan |
| How often | Typically every six months (biannual) | On demand — when pension controller requests |
| Primary method | Fingerprint biometric at bank device | Facial recognition or biometric via Pak-ID / NADRA system |
| If fingerprints fail | Repeat visits required; pension could be withheld | Finance Minister confirmed pension payments should not stop due to fingerprint failure alone |
| Can a family member help? | Generally no — pensioner had to appear in person | Yes — immediate family member can use their own Pak-ID account |
| Cost | Varied; bank fees or processing charges in some cases | Free across all channels |
| Pension controller notification | Manual or paper-based process | Automatic digital notification via National Pensioners Register |
| Death notification | Family had to separately report to each organisation | NADRA notifies pension controllers daily via Death Notification Tool and CRMS |
| Annual verification volume | ~37.8 million biometric verifications (2024) in pilot zones | System now scalable nationwide; 25.4 million processed in 2025 during transition |
What Is the National Pensioners Register?
The National Pensioners Register is a central digital database established by NADRA to maintain verified records of pensioners’ identity and life status. It is the infrastructure that makes the PoLC system work. Beyond convenience for pensioners, the register serves a second core objective: eliminating ghost pensioners, individuals recorded as alive in pension systems but who are deceased or ineligible. NADRA’s biometric verification system was specifically designed with this dual purpose from its inception in November 2021.
Phase 1 coverage: Pensioners administered by the CGA and MAG have been brought onto the register in the first phase. This provides pension controllers with an authenticated digital reference for confirming who is alive, who has died, and which secondary or family pensioners have experienced changes in their eligibility conditions.
Automatic death notification: When the death of a primary or secondary pensioner is reported through a health facility via NADRA’s Death Notification Tool, or recorded in the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS), NADRA provides daily digital notification to the relevant pension controller. Families do not need to separately report the same death to each pension authority.
Automatic eligibility updates: Changes affecting secondary or family pensioners — including age-based conditions and marital-status conditions specified in applicable rules — are communicated to pension controllers on a daily basis when those changes are reflected in NADRA’s registration records. The pension authority retains the decision on whether to continue, alter, or stop a pension under applicable rules.
Bank verification access: Authorised banks can now verify a pensioner’s life status directly from the National Pensioners Register, without requiring the pensioner to appear at a branch. This removes the need for repeated physical or paper-based verification in the pension disbursement process.
What Pensioners Need to Know: Key Facts
✔ The Proof of Life Certificate is completely free — there is no fee at any access channel.
✔ The Pak-ID app is the simplest option for pensioners or their immediate family members.
✔ Pensioners at NADRA Registration Centres and Union Councils receive priority service without waiting in the regular queue.
✔ Pensioners whose fingerprints cannot be verified should not have their pensions stopped — the Finance Minister stated this explicitly at the August 2026 launch.
✔ Phase 1 covers CGA and MAG pensioners. Other government and private-sector pensioners will be added in subsequent phases.
✔ Death and eligibility changes are now communicated automatically to pension controllers — families do not need to report separately to each organisation.
✔ NADRA’s biometric PoL system processed 37.8 million verifications in 2024 and 25.4 million in 2025 during the Rawalpindi/Islamabad pilot, before the nationwide rollout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NADRA Proof of Life Certificate?
The NADRA Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) is an official document that confirms a pensioner is alive and eligible to continue receiving pension payments. It is issued by the National Database and Registration Authority and is now available free of charge through Pak-ID, e-Sahulat franchises, NADRA Registration Centres, Union Councils, and mobile service units.
Who is eligible for the free NADRA Proof of Life Certificate?
All pensioners in Pakistan are eligible for the free service. In Phase 1, the National Pensioners Register covers pensioners administered by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and Military Accountant General (MAG). Pensioners of other federal, provincial, and private-sector organisations will be added in later phases.
Can a family member get the Proof of Life Certificate on behalf of a pensioner?
Yes. A pensioner who cannot use the Pak-ID app personally can have an immediate family member obtain the certificate on their behalf through the family member’s own Pak-ID account, subject to the prescribed identity verification process.
How much does the NADRA Proof of Life Certificate cost?
The NADRA Proof of Life Certificate is completely free of charge for all pensioners. There is no fee through any access channel.
What is the National Pensioners Register?
The National Pensioners Register is a central digital database established by NADRA to maintain authenticated records of pensioners’ identity and life status. In Phase 1, it covers CGA and MAG pensioners. The register automatically notifies pension controllers of deaths and eligibility changes, removing the need for families to report the same event to multiple organisations.
Do pensioners still need to visit a bank for Proof of Life verification?
No. Pensioners no longer need to visit a bank for this verification. Banks can check a pensioner’s life status directly from the National Pensioners Register through a digital verification service made available to authorised banks.
What happens if a pensioner’s fingerprints cannot be verified?
The Finance Minister confirmed at the August 2026 launch that pension payments should not be stopped solely because a pensioner’s fingerprints cannot be verified. The Pak-ID system uses facial recognition as an alternative, and the multiple access channels including family member assistance and mobile services are designed to accommodate pensioners with biometric verification difficulties.
Which pensioners are covered by the National Pensioners Register in Phase 1?
Phase 1 covers pensioners administered by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and the Military Accountant General (MAG). These are civil government pensioners and military pensioners. Pensioners of provincial governments, other federal bodies, and private institutions will be included in later phases after the necessary institutional agreements are concluded.
IdentityServices.pk is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with NADRA or any government authority. For official applications and verification, always use NADRA’s official channels at nadra.gov.pk.
