Islamabad, August 22, 2026: For years, one of the more frustrating routines in a Pakistani pensioner’s life has been the recurring trip to a bank or pension office just to prove they’re still alive. That requirement known as the Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) has now been made completely free and, more importantly, available from home, following an initiative launched by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Friday, August 21, 2026.
What Changed, and Why Now
A Proof of Life Certificate is an official document confirming that a pensioner is alive, typically required every six months for pension payments to continue. Until now, this process often meant elderly, bedridden or differently-abled pensioners had to physically travel to a bank branch or pension office a genuine hardship for many, especially those whose fingerprints have become difficult to verify biometrically due to age.
The new initiative was launched on the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, the Ministry of Defence, the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), and the Military Accountant General (MAG). Speaking about the initiative, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb specifically highlighted the role of NADRA’s PakID mobile application, noting that the Prime Minister had directed relevant ministries to resolve the recurring issue of biometric verification failures among pensioners. Aurangzeb also confirmed that banks are being instructed that pension payments should not be stopped simply because a pensioner’s fingerprints can’t be verified.
How to Get the Certificate Through PakID
According to NADRA, the easiest way for eligible pensioners to obtain their Proof of Life Certificate is directly through the PakID mobile app, which allows the entire process to be completed digitally from home. Here’s how it generally works:
- Download and open the PakID mobile app on your smartphone
- Log in or verify your identity through the app’s standard verification process
- Locate the Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) service within the app
- Complete the biometric or identity verification step as prompted
- Once verified, the certificate is issued digitally and linked to your pension record
Importantly, if a pensioner is unable to use PakID themselves due to age, illness, or lack of a smartphone an immediate family member can obtain the certificate on their behalf, using their own PakID account, subject to NADRA’s prescribed identity verification process.
Other Ways to Get It, If You Prefer In-Person Service
For pensioners who prefer assisted service over the app, NADRA has expanded access through multiple physical channels, all offering the certificate free of charge:
- More than 5,000 e-Sahulat franchises nationwide
- Over 988 NADRA Registration Centres
- More than 500 Union Councils
At these locations, pensioners are also being given preferential service, meaning they shouldn’t have to wait in long queues alongside the general public a detail specifically aimed at making the process easier for elderly applicants.
Who This Helps Most
NADRA has framed this initiative as particularly aimed at elderly, bedridden and differently-abled pensioners who have historically struggled to make repeated trips to banks or pension offices simply to meet a recurring verification requirement. For many older pensioners, especially those with worn fingerprints that are difficult to scan biometrically, this had become a genuine barrier to receiving pension payments on time.
Why This Matters
Beyond the convenience factor, this change addresses a real financial risk that pensioners have faced: payments being delayed or interrupted purely due to failed biometric verification, rather than any actual dispute over eligibility. With the new directive requiring banks to continue payments despite verification difficulties, and with the certificate now free and accessible from home via PakID, the process is expected to become significantly less burdensome for Pakistan’s pensioner population going forward.
