ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed on Thursdaythat 5,625, 497 marriages were registered during the last five years through National Database and Registration Authority’s Civil Registration Management System deployed in Union Councils nationwide.

Details regarding marriages were shared in response to Shahida Rehmani’s question who asked the total number of Nikah Nama registered nationwide during last five years.

She also asked whether any recent modifications had been made in the Nikah Nama registration process and details of challenges encountered in the Nikah Nama registration system’s implementation and efficiency achieved so far in this regard.

In a written reply, the Minister for Interior Mohsin Raza Naqvi informed members that in prevailing Muslim Family Laws, Ordinance 1961 the Nikah Registrar solemnised the nikah ceremony in his jurisdiction authorised by Union Councils. After solemnisation, the nikah register was maintained by Nikah Registrars and copies of Nikah Nama were then provided to Union Council and both the parties.

According to the ministry, Nadra was providing only technical services in digitisation of vital events such as births, deaths, marriages and divorces.

On the directives of the federal government under “Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package 2024” Nadrahad formulated and submitted a concept paper for a “Forgery Proof Nikah Nama”, the ministry said in its response.

This initiative aimed to provide a digital solution for profiling Nikah registrars and digitizing of Nikah forms. Subsequently, the concept paper was shared with all local governments for their inputs through MOI. After thorough considerations, Nadra had submitted a way forward to MOI for further communication with Ministry of Law and Justice, to make requisite changes/amendments in Muslim Family Laws in order to implement the concept paper.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2024