ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) says pension authorities will not stop payments solely because it did not issue a pensioner’s proof-of-life certificate in September.
NADRA Public Information Officer Syed Shabahat Ali gave the clarification during a podcast. He said the federal government had already decided not to suspend pensions on that basis.
According to Ali, the assurance covers retired federal and provincial government employees, including former Army and other armed forces personnel. It extends to retirees whose institutions have not yet approached NADRA for certificate services.
NADRA has been working with the relevant institutions to facilitate issuance.
Separate Finance Division rules, issued on September 18, retain verification requirements for pensioners covered by the federal system. They require verification at least once every six months and abolish the fixed March and September deadlines.
Under those rules, government accounts authorities temporarily suspend disbursements if they receive no valid digital life signal during that period. A successful verification restores active status and releases accumulated pension arrears without bank approval.
Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and Military Accountant General (MAG) systems receive the verification signal directly from NADRA.
Commercial banks cannot make pension accounts dormant or restrict withdrawals solely because pensioners have not submitted proof of life.
Read: NADRA Offers Pensioners Free Proof of Life Certificate
NADRA provides the certificate free through its PakID mobile app, registration centres, union councils, e-Sahulat franchises and mobile service channels.
For covered pensioners who cannot complete digital verification, the federal procedure provides a manual alternative through designated accounts offices or pension facilitation centres.
