On this page 11 sections
- Police Verification at a Glance
- Police Verification vs Police Character Certificate
- Who Sends the Form, Me or the Department?
- How to Apply in Punjab
- How to Apply in Islamabad
- What the Police Actually Check
- Documents You Need
- Tracking, Delivery and Validity
- The Nationwide System Coming Next
- Mistakes That Waste Your Time and Fee
- Frequently Asked Questions
For a Pakistan government job, you need General Police Verification, not the Police Character Certificate. The two are separate services with separate fees. You apply for the verification yourself at the Police Khidmat Markaz or on the Khidmat Markaz portal. The police check your criminal record and your address, and the report goes to whoever asked for it.
This guide explains the difference between the two documents, how to apply in Punjab and Islamabad, what the police actually check, how long it takes, and what to do if the report is delayed.
Police Verification at a Glance#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What you need | General Police Verification |
| Punjab fee | Rs 300 |
| Islamabad fee | Rs 1,000, cash at the counter |
| Processing time | 3 working days |
| Where to apply | Police Khidmat Markaz or the PKM portal |
General Police Verification is the domestic service. Punjab’s Khidmat Markaz lists it as required for job applications in different organizations in Pakistan, and for verifying servants, maids and other workers before hiring. Islamabad Police lists it for job applications, hiring domestic staff, and employment in security-sensitive positions. The police and security jobs page lists current police vacancies on joblo.pk.
Police Verification vs Police Character Certificate#
The two names are often confused. They are not the same. Punjab charges Rs 300 for General Police Verification and Rs 500 for the Character Certificate. Islamabad charges Rs 1,000 for General Police Verification. Applying for the wrong one wastes the fee and the three working days.
| Document | Used for | Punjab fee | Islamabad fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Police Verification | Government jobs in Pakistan, domestic staff, security-sensitive posts | Rs 300 | Rs 1,000 |
| Police Character Certificate | Jobs abroad, immigration, visas | Rs 500 | Rs 1,000 |
| FIA clearance | National-level check for immigration and embassies | Set by FIA | Set by FIA |
| School or employer character certificate | Not a police document at all | No fee | No fee |
One fee needs a note. Our police character certificate guide states Rs 350 at the counter in Punjab, from the ranking guides of the time. The Khidmat Markaz official service list now reads Rs 500. Fees are revised from time to time. Confirm the exact amount on the portal or at the counter before you pay. The school or employer character certificate is a different document entirely, covered in our character certificate guide.
Who Sends the Form, Me or the Department?#
You apply for the verification yourself. The department does not send the form for you. You go to the Khidmat Markaz or the portal, fill the form, pay the fee and collect the report. You then submit it to the department with your other documents. Our documents guide lists everything a government job application needs.
After selection, the department may also verify your antecedents itself. That is a separate check the department runs. The candidate is usually asked for the certificate. No official procedure for that department check has been published, so do not pay anyone who offers to arrange it for you.
How to Apply in Punjab#
Punjab has the most digitised system. Apply online at pkm.punjab.gov.pk or through the Punjab Police app, or walk into any Police Khidmat Markaz.
There are centres in all 36 districts of Punjab, and you can apply for a certificate for any district from a centre in any other district.
- Register with your CNIC and mobile number and verify with the OTP.
- Fill the form, upload your documents and pay the fee. Online payment uses a PSID through the e-payment gateway.
- Track the application on the PKM Track page or the app until the certificate arrives.
- Receive the certificate. It is QR-coded and delivered by courier.
The fee is Rs 300 for General Police Verification and Rs 500 for the Character Certificate, per the Khidmat Markaz service list. Processing takes 3 working days after the fee is paid.
How to Apply in Islamabad#
Visit the Police Khidmat Markaz in Sector F-6 or G-10. The Islamabad verification page states only a visit to the Khidmat Markaz, with no online option. The fee is Rs 1,000, payable in cash at the counter. Processing takes 3 working days from the date of application.
Bring these:
- Original CNIC or B-Form
- Affidavit, if your CNIC has no Islamabad address. Our affidavit guide explains how to make one.
- Rent agreement, official allotment letter or hostel letter on original letterhead.
What the Police Actually Check#
The police check FIRs, police complaints and court records against the Criminal Record Management System (CRMS) and the police registers. They also verify your address. A police visit to the given address to confirm residence and ask neighbours may happen. Pakistan has no single public criminal database, so the check runs through the provincial police networks. Digital checks take 1 to 3 days. Manual letters take 5 to 7 days.
A clean report usually says the criminal record is silent. That is the standard police phrase for no entries or adverse remarks in the criminal record. It means the verification is complete and clear.
Documents You Need#
Bring your original CNIC. If you are applying in Islamabad and your CNIC has no Islamabad address, bring an affidavit as well. In Islamabad you also need a rent agreement, an official allotment letter or a hostel letter on original letterhead. Keep a copy of the application form and the fee receipt. Incomplete paperwork is the number-one cause of delays, and the name spelling must match your CNIC exactly.
Tracking, Delivery and Validity#
In Punjab, track the application on the PKM Track page or the Punjab Police app with your tracking number. The certificate is delivered by courier. In other provinces, collect it from the office where you applied. There is no fixed validity stated by any police service. The accepting body decides. Most employers want one issued within the last 3 to 6 months, so do not get the verification months before you need it.
The Nationwide System Coming Next#
On 4 August 2026, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired a meeting at the National Police Bureau and approved in principle a uniform, fully digital, nationwide police clearance certificate system through a central NPB portal. No launch date and no fee have been announced, and the portal is not live as of 4 November 2026. Use your provincial route until the NPB portal is live. Do not pay anyone who claims to issue a nationwide certificate now.
Mistakes That Waste Your Time and Fee#
Applying for the character certificate instead of General Police Verification. The certificate is for jobs abroad and immigration. For a Pakistan government job, apply for General Police Verification.
Using the wrong province’s fee. Punjab charges Rs 300 for verification. Islamabad charges Rs 1,000. Sindh, KP and Balochistan have their own fees. Confirm the fee with the issuing office.
Getting the verification too early. Most employers want one issued within the last 3 to 6 months. A certificate from a year ago will not be accepted.
Missing the affidavit in Islamabad. If your CNIC has no Islamabad address, the affidavit is required. Without it, the application is not accepted.
Paying an agent. Verification is a police service with a fixed fee at the counter or on the portal. No agent can clear a record or speed up the check. The government jobs page lists current vacancies on joblo.pk.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How long does police verification take?
General Police Verification takes 3 working days in Punjab and Islamabad. Digital checks take 1 to 3 days and manual letters take 5 to 7 days. In Sindh and KP, the certificate usually takes 5 to 7 working days. The Federal Ombudsman directed in 2019 that police clearance matters of overseas Pakistanis be finalized within 30 days.
Who sends the form, me or the department?
You apply for the verification yourself at the Police Khidmat Markaz or on the Khidmat Markaz portal. The department does not send the form for you. After selection, the department may also verify your antecedents itself, and it usually asks you for the certificate.
Is police verification the same as a police character certificate?
No. General Police Verification is the domestic service for government jobs in Pakistan, domestic staff and security-sensitive posts. The Police Character Certificate is for jobs abroad, immigration and visas. Punjab charges Rs 300 for verification and Rs 500 for the character certificate. They are separate services with separate fees.
Will an FIR stop me getting a government job?
An adverse report can hold up or cancel the appointment. Concealment is worse than the record itself. Hiding an FIR or a case is treated as suppression of fact and can end the appointment even after joining. A past case you were acquitted of should still be declared if the form asks. If verification finds a record, our police character certificate guide explains the next steps.
What documents are needed for police verification?
Your original CNIC is the main document. In Islamabad, if your CNIC has no Islamabad address, you also need an affidavit, plus a rent agreement, an official allotment letter or a hostel letter on original letterhead. In Punjab, apply with your CNIC and mobile number on the Khidmat Markaz portal or at any centre. The name spelling must match your CNIC exactly.
