Is there a government fee for getting a certified copy of an FIR?

In Punjab, obtaining a certified copy of an FIR at Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) or via the Punjab Police app is free of charge. In Islamabad, PKM centers charge a nominal counter processing fee (approximately Rs. 200). Under Section 154 CrPC, the first copy issued to the complainant upon registration at the police station is 100% free by law.

What if I do not remember my FIR number or exact registration date?

You can visit any Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) or the concerned police station with your original CNIC. The desk officer can search the centralized Police Record Management System (PSRMS) by your CNIC number, complainant name, and approximate time frame to locate the exact FIR record.

Can an advocate or family member obtain the FIR copy on my behalf?

Yes. A licensed advocate can obtain a certified copy by presenting a signed Power of Attorney (Wakalatnama) or legal representation memo. Close family members can also apply if they carry the complainant’s original CNIC copy and written authorization letter.

How is getting a certified FIR copy different from checking FIR status online?

Checking FIR status online (via portals like cms.punjabpolice.gov.pk or 1787 SMS) tells you the current investigation stage, assigned Investigation Officer (IO), or challan status on your screen. Getting a certified copy gives you the official physical paper document, stamped and signed with the police station seal, which is legally required for court bail, insurance theft claims, bank disputes, or visa/passport replacements.

Can an accused person or their legal counsel obtain a copy of the FIR?

Yes. An FIR is a public legal document once lodged. The accused or their legal defense counsel has the statutory right under Police Rules 1934 (Rule 24.5) and court procedural rules to inspect and obtain a certified copy for preparing pre-arrest bail (Bail Before Arrest) or defending the charges before the Area Magistrate.

POLICE RECORD & LEGAL COPIESSECTION 154 CrPC & POLICE RULES 1934

How to Get a Certified Copy of FIR in Pakistan (2026 Guide)ایف آئی آر کی مصدقہ نقل: پنجاب، اسلام آباد اور سندھ میں آن لائن و خدمت مرکز سے کاپی حاصل کرنے کا طریقہ

Need an official, stamped, and signed copy of a First Information Report (FIR) for court proceedings, insurance claims, or lost official documents? Here is the exact provincial procedure to obtain your certified FIR copy through Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) centers and mobile applications.

Important Distinction: Checking Status vs. Getting an Official Copy

1. Checking FIR Status (Tracking)Use this if you simply want to know which Investigation Officer (IO) is handling the case or whether the police challan (Section 173 CrPC) has been submitted to court.

Go to FIR Status Checker & Tracker Guide →

2. Getting a Certified Copy (This Page)Use this if you need the physical, signed, and stamped legal document with the police station seal. This certified copy is legally mandatory for court bail, insurance theft recovery, replacement of lost passport/CNIC, or bank claims.

In Short

Verified Summary

Audio Guide:

How to Check or Verify: Your Legal Right to a Certified FIR Copy in Pakistan

Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), obtaining a certified copy of a registered FIR is your statutory right. In Punjab, request it via the Punjab Police mobile app or visit any Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) with your CNIC and FIR number for an instant stamped copy. In Islamabad, visit PKM F-6; in Sindh, obtain it directly from the concerned police station record desk.

The Legal Mandate & Elimination of Fake FIRs (PSRMS System)

Under Section 154 CrPC and Rule 24.5 of the Police Rules 1934, a copy of the First Information Report must be provided forthwith, free of cost, to the informant/complainant. No police official or Station House Officer (SHO) has the legal discretion to deny a copy once a case is entered into the official register.

In the past, manual paper registers (Register No. 1 and Daily Diary / Roznamcha) were vulnerable to backdating, missing pages, and unauthorized tampering. Today, the Police Station Record Management System (PSRMS)—engineered by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and integrated with NADRA—digitizes every FIR with a unique system timestamp and barcode across all 700+ Punjab police stations and Sindh police divisions. This reform has drastically minimized fake FIR registrations and ensured that citizens can retrieve their computerized records from any authorized facilitation center in the province.

Step-by-Step Guide by Province (Punjab, Islamabad & Sindh)

PUNJAB (LAHORE, RAWALPINDI, MULTAN, FAISALABAD)100% Free

Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) & Mobile App

Punjab Police has completely decentralized FIR copy issuance. You do not need to visit a traditional police station:

Method 1 — Police Khidmat Markaz (In-Person): Visit any of the 130+ PKM centers across Punjab. Bring your original CNIC and mention the FIR Number and Thana. The desk officer pulls the record from PSRMS, prints the computerized copy, and stamps it with the official PKM seal within 5 to 10 minutes.
Method 2 — "Punjab Police Pakistan" Mobile App: Download the official app from Google Play / Apple App Store, log in, navigate to Services > Copy of FIR, enter your CNIC and FIR details, and submit your request. You will receive notifications and instructions for digital pickup.
Important Note on CMS Portal: The website cms.punjabpolice.gov.pk is designed strictly for lodging and tracking complaint status; it does not host public downloadable FIR copies due to privacy regulations.
Overseas Pakistanis: Citizens living abroad can request verified copies through the PKM Global Portal (pkm.punjab.gov.pk/public/app/embassies) via designated Pakistani embassies.

ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY (ICT)~Rs. 200 Fee at PKM

Public Facilitation Centers (PFC) & PKM Centers

Islamabad Police provides computerized public services across modern facilitation centers:

Primary Location — PKM F-6 (24/7 Service): The central Police Khidmat Markaz at F-6 Islamabad operates round-the-clock counters for issuing certified copies of FIRs and lost document reports.
Additional Centers: You can also visit PKM branches in G-8/1, H-11, Gulberg Greens, or the concerned police station.
Requirements & Fee: Present original CNIC and FIR details. A nominal counter processing fee (approx. Rs. 200) is paid at the token counter.
Overseas Affidavits & Police Character: ICT Police also provides specific downloadable affidavit templates for overseas character verifications (learn more in our Police Character Certificate Guide).

SINDH (KARACHI, HYDERABAD, SUKKUR)Police Station / CPLC

Concerned Police Station & CPLC Assistance

Sindh Police operates computerized PSRMS in coordination with CPLC (Citizens Police Liaison Committee):

Concerned Police Station Desk: In Sindh, the official certified and stamped copy is primarily obtained from the Record Moharrir / SHO of the police station where the FIR was registered.
CPLC Verification Desk (Helpline 1102): The Citizens Police Liaison Committee (cplc.org.pk) maintains a synchronized crime and FIR database at the Governor House Secretariat, assisting citizens in verifying FIR records for stolen vehicles, mobile phones, or extortion cases.
Sindh Police Services Portal: The mobile app allows case status tracking and complaint monitoring across Karachi and interior Sindh.

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA & BALOCHISTANPAL Desks

Police Assistance Lines (PAL) & Record Branches

In KP (Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad) and Balochistan (Quetta):

KP Police Assistance Lines (PAL): Citizens can visit the computerized PAL center in their district with their CNIC to obtain an instant computerized copy.
Balochistan Police: Obtain certified copies directly through the record clerk (Moharrir) at the respective district police station or Central Police Office (CPO) facilitation counter.

Step-by-Step Flow to Obtain a Certified FIR Copy

4 straightforward steps from identifying your case to receiving the signed legal document

VERIFIED PROCESS FLOW

Step 11

Gather Case Identifiers

Have your FIR Number, Police Station Name (Thana), District, and Year ready.

Verification2

Prepare Original CNIC

Carry the original CNIC of the complainant or an authorization letter for a lawyer/representative.

Submission3

Apply via PKM or App

Visit any Police Khidmat Markaz or use the Punjab Police Pakistan mobile app (Services > Copy of FIR).

Certified Document4

Receive Certified Copy

The computerized system verifies the record in PSRMS and issues the stamped certified copy in 5–10 minutes.

Follow steps in direct numerical order. Avoid unverified middle-men or agents.PAKISTAN INFO HUB • 2026 DIRECTORY

Information & Documents Checklist

Before visiting a Police Khidmat Markaz or submitting your request through the mobile application, make sure you have the following information and documents ready:

1. FIR Number

The specific registration number (e.g., FIR No. 245/2026) issued at the time of lodging.

2. Police Station Name

The exact Thana and District where the incident occurred and was registered.

3. Year & Date of Incident

Approximate date or year of registration to help the database officer filter search records.

4. Original CNIC & Photocopy

Valid CNIC of the complainant or applicant seeking the certified copy.

5. Purpose of Copy

State the purpose (e.g., Court bail application, vehicle insurance claim, lost passport replacement).

6. Authorization (If Represented)

Signed Power of Attorney (Wakalatnama) if an advocate is applying on your behalf.

Common Legal & Administrative Uses of a Certified FIR Copy

1. Court Bail & Defense

Required by trial courts, Sessions Courts, and High Courts for granting Pre-Arrest Bail (Bail Before Arrest) or Post-Arrest Bail.

2. Insurance Theft Claims

Mandatory for motor insurance companies, bank loan settlements, and asset loss claims for stolen cars, motorcycles, or commercial property.

3. Passport & CNIC Loss

Required by the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) and NADRA when applying for duplicate documents after robbery or theft.

4. Banking & Cyber Crime

Used to dispute unauthorized financial transactions, SIM cloning, or freeze fraudulent bank accounts with State Bank of Pakistan compliance teams.

Frequently Asked Questions (Citizen Legal Clarifications)

Is there any fee to obtain a certified copy of an FIR?

Under Section 154 CrPC, the first copy provided to the complainant at the time of lodging is 100% free by law. In Punjab, Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) centers issue computerized certified copies free of charge. In Islamabad, PKM counters charge a nominal processing fee of around Rs. 200.

What if I forgot my FIR number or year of registration?

You do not need to worry. Visit any Police Khidmat Markaz with your original CNIC. The desk officer can search the centralized PSRMS database by your CNIC number, complainant name, and Thana jurisdiction to trace the exact FIR record on screen.

Can a lawyer or legal representative request the FIR copy for me?

Yes. A practicing advocate can apply on your behalf by presenting a signed Power of Attorney (Wakalatnama) along with their Bar Council card. Immediate family members can also apply if they bring the complainant’s original CNIC copy and a signed authorization letter.

How is getting a certified copy different from checking FIR status online?

Checking status online (such as via 1787 SMS or CMS portals) provides an on-screen update regarding the investigation phase, IO assignment, and challan status. A certified copy is the formal, ink-stamped and signed evidentiary paper document required by courts, insurance underwriters, and official embassies.

Can the accused person or their family get a copy of the FIR?

Yes. Under Pakistani criminal jurisprudence and Rule 24.5 of the Police Rules 1934, once an FIR is officially registered, it becomes a public record in legal proceedings. The accused or their legal defense counsel is legally entitled to obtain a copy to prepare their defense and file for Pre-Arrest Bail before the competent Magistrate or Sessions Judge.

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