Pakistan’s ICT Administration Implements Biometric Verification for Stamp Papers to Combat Fraud

Stamp papers serve as a means of revenue collection for the government and are used to validate various legal agreements and documents. They are commonly required for affidavits, property transactions, rental agreements, powers of attorney, legal contracts, and court petitions, ensuring the authenticity and enforceability of these documents.

According to ICT administration officials, the new system features a biometric slip attached to each stamp paper, streamlining the verification process. Stamp vendors throughout the territory have been instructed to comply with the new verification requirements.

This development follows Pakistan’s broader push toward digital governance and enhanced security measures, coming shortly after the country’s passage of the Digital Nation Act, which aims to modernize the nation’s infrastructure and identity systems. The Act encompasses initiatives for electronic governance and the development of a unified national identification system.

The implementation of biometric verification for stamp papers aligns with other recent identity security measures in Pakistan, including the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) introduction of enhanced biometric features in various identification documents.

The new system is currently being implemented across the Islamabad Capital Territory, with stamp vendors required to adopt the biometric verification process for all stamp paper transactions.