A connectivity failure at the District Courts domicile branch in Rawalpindi has brought certificate issuance to a complete standstill for over a month, with the biometric verification system rendered entirely non-functional due to damaged internet cables and infrastructure that authorities have been unable to repair owing to financial constraints.
The biometric verification system, which is mandatory for domicile issuance, cannot function without an active internet connection, making certificate processing entirely impossible under current conditions. Branch officials confirmed that financial constraints have prevented timely repair of the damaged internet cables and associated infrastructure, leaving the entire verification system non-operational. A written report has already been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office requesting urgent intervention to restore the internet and biometric systems, with the DC’s Office stating that restoration of internet cables, Wi-Fi network, and all associated systems is expected to be completed within the coming week.
The human cost of the outage has been considerable. Thousands of students requiring domicile certificates as essential documentation for college and university admissions have been unable to complete their applications, with dozens of applicants visiting the office daily only to leave empty-handed. Unemployed individuals applying for jobs that require domicile certificates have also been severely affected. Female students and their families have been among the most affected, making repeated visits to the branch hoping to obtain certificates before university admission deadlines expire. One applicant, Qaisra Begum, has been visiting the branch with her three daughters since before Eid ul Azha, but their university admissions remain on hold without the required documentation. Another applicant, Naveeda Hashmi, called on authorities to take immediate measures to facilitate students whose academic futures are being affected by the ongoing delays.
The situation raises broader questions about the resilience of digitised public service systems in Pakistan, where the shift from paper-based to biometric and internet-dependent workflows has improved efficiency under normal conditions but introduced significant vulnerability to infrastructure disruptions. A branch official confirmed to reporters that not a single domicile certificate had been issued in one month because the biometric system depends entirely on internet connectivity. For a process as administratively foundational as domicile certification, which underpins access to education, employment, and civic entitlements across Pakistan, the absence of any offline backup mechanism or contingency process has left applicants with no recourse but to wait.
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