Punjab moves to unify madaris registration system, end duplicate process

LAHORE – The Punjab government has decided to streamline and unify the registration system of religious seminaries (madaris) across the province through planned legal and administrative reforms. The sources said that the provincial government will introduce amendments to the Madaris Registration Act and also propose changes to the Societies Registration Act to remove the requirement for separate registration of seminaries. Under the proposed framework, seminaries already registered with the Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan and other recognised religious boards will not be required to seek fresh registration in Punjab. Officials said the initiative aims to give legal recognition at the provincial level to seminaries already registered with federal authorities. Once implemented, the system will link federal and provincial databases to ensure a unified and integrated record of institutions. Sources added that any seminary registered with the relevant federal regulatory authority will be treated as compliant in Punjab without the need for additional registration or verification at the provincial level. According to officials of the Punjab Home Department, the proposed amendments have been finalised after consultations with religious scholars and seminary administrators. The draft proposals have now been forwarded to the provincial cabinet for consideration and approval. Officials said the reforms are intended to reduce administrative burden on seminaries by eliminating duplicate registrations, minimising paperwork, and simplifying verification procedures. They further stated that a detailed briefing on the proposed changes to the Societies Registration Act will be presented before the Punjab Cabinet in the coming days. Once approved, the new system is expected to create a single-window regulatory mechanism for seminaries, improving coordination between federal and provincial authorities while maintaining a clear and unified registration framework. Fazl: Madaris safeg