Life Certificate for Pensioners in Pakistan
Life certificate submission for pensioners in Pakistan has changed. In September 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued revised procedures that remove commercial banks from biometric verification and proof of life checks and hand the job to NADRA. If you or someone in your family receives a pension, this guide explains what is new, what you need to do, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Important update: According to reports on the new procedures, the old March 15 deadline and the fixed March and September bank verification schedule no longer apply. Pensioners now complete verification through NADRA, roughly every six months.
What Is a Life Certificate (Proof of Life) for Pensioners?
A life certificate, also called proof of life, confirms that a pensioner or family pensioner is alive and eligible to keep receiving pension. It helps prevent payments to ghost pensioners and protects the rightful beneficiary. Until now, this check was mostly done at the bank where the pension account was held.
What Has Changed in 2026?
| Old system | New system (reported) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who verifies | Bank branch | NADRA |
| How often | Twice a year (March and September) | Once every six months (180 days) |
| Where | Bank branch | PakID app, NADRA centres, mobile units, e-Sahulat franchises |
| Account status | Could become dormant | Banks told not to mark pension accounts dormant |
| Bank’s role | Verify and collect biometrics | Only pay the pension |
Under the revised system, NADRA sends each pensioner’s digital “life signal” directly to the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and the Military Accountant General (MAG). Banks are no longer supposed to collect life certificates or biometric data, or restrict withdrawals because a certificate was not submitted to them.
Who Does This Apply To?
The revised procedures were issued by the Ministry of Finance for federal civilian and military pensioners, including family pensioners. Pensioners of provincial governments, PIA, EOBI or other institutions should confirm with their own accounts office or department, because separate instructions may apply.
How to Complete Life Certificate Verification
You can use any of these options:
- NADRA PakID mobile app. Complete your verification from home using the app, following NADRA’s on-screen instructions.
- NADRA centres. Visit a NADRA Registration Centre, mobile unit, e-Sahulat franchise, or a bank branch that works specifically as a NADRA proof of life centre.
- Manual forms (special cases). Pensioners who cannot use digital channels because of age, illness or limited access can submit manual forms through a District Accounts Office or a Pension Facilitation Centre under CGA or MAG. Banks cannot process these forms directly. Reports mention Form-10 for very elderly pensioners.
- Family pensioners. If your marital or remarriage status is not updated in NADRA records, you may need to submit a form (reported as Form-12) through the accounts office.
Keep your original CNIC and your pension details (PPO number and pension account information) ready. Family pensioners should also keep documents related to marital status.
What Happens If You Miss the Verification?
Under the new rules, if NADRA’s digital life signal is not received for six months, the pension goes into suspense status. Reports say that once verification is completed, the pension is restored and pending arrears are released.
Banks have also been directed to reactivate pension accounts that were marked dormant before August 22, 2026, and not to apply normal dormancy rules to pension accounts.
Common Problems and What to Do
- Fingerprints do not match because of age or skin condition: use the manual route through the District Accounts Office or Pension Facilitation Centre.
- Long queues at NADRA centres: try the PakID app or an e-Sahulat franchise, and go early in the day.
- Pension stopped or verification rejected: read our guide on Proof of Life Certificate Rejected by Bank for possible causes and fixes.
- Elderly relative who cannot travel: contact your District Accounts Office to ask about the manual verification process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need to go to the bank for a life certificate?
No, not for routine verification. Banks are no longer supposed to require branch visits for proof of life.
How often do I have to verify?
Once every six months (180 days), replacing the fixed March and September schedule.
Is the March 15 deadline still valid?
No. That deadline belonged to the old bank-based cycle.
Will my pension account become dormant?
Banks have been told not to mark pension accounts dormant for pension processing.
I live abroad. What should I do?
Earlier rules allowed life certificates attested through the Pakistani embassy. Please contact the Pakistan mission in your country or your accounts office to confirm the current procedure.
Where can I get official information?
From NADRA, the Controller General of Accounts, your District Accounts Office, or the Ministry of Finance.
Disclaimer
This is an independent information website and is not affiliated with any government department. The information above is based on news reports of the Ministry of Finance’s revised pension procedures (September 2026). Please confirm details with NADRA, your accounts office or your pension department before acting.