Lost Document Affidavit (Pakistan)

A Lost Document Affidavit in Pakistan evidences the deponent's sworn confirmation of the matters stated, for use where formal proof is needed.

The Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984, which replaced the Evidence Act 1872 and incorporates Islamic principles of evidence derived from the Quran and Sunnah, governs the admissibility and weight of all forms of evidence before courts and administrative bodies in Pakistan. Article 73 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984 addresses the proof of contents of documents and provides that when a document has been lost or destroyed, secondary evidence of its contents — including a sworn affidavit declaring the loss — may be admitted in lieu of the original under Article 75 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984. The Lost Document Affidavit serves as primary evidence of the loss and as a prerequisite for obtaining duplicate documents from issuing authorities.

The Lost Document Affidavit is one of the most commonly required legal documents in Pakistan, used across a wide range of personal, administrative, and commercial situations. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) requires a Lost Document Affidavit when a CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) has been lost and the applicant seeks a replacement card — the affidavit must confirm the loss and the circumstances in which it occurred. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports requires a Lost Document Affidavit when a Pakistani passport has been lost or destroyed and the holder applies for a new passport through a Pakistani diplomatic mission abroad or from a passport office in Pakistan.

Universities and educational institutions affiliated with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, provincial Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) — including the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) — and professional regulatory bodies require a Lost Document Affidavit when a graduate or student requests a duplicate degree certificate, mark sheet, migration certificate, or professional qualification document. The affidavit confirms that the original is genuinely lost and was not fraudulently surrendered or duplicated.

Banks regulated by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Central Depository Company (CDC), and listed companies require a Lost Document Affidavit accompanied by an Indemnity Bond when a share certificate, fixed deposit receipt, savings certificate, or bank cheque book has been lost. The Indemnity Bond protects the issuer against any claim that may arise from the original document if it is subsequently found and presented by a third party. Provincial revenue authorities — Tehsildar, Patwari, District Collector — may require a Lost Document Affidavit as supporting evidence when duplicate land records (Fard-e-Malkiat, Registry) are sought following loss of original title documents.

A false statement in a Lost Document Affidavit constitutes perjury under Section 193 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (PPC), punishable by imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine. Where the false affidavit is used to obtain a duplicate document fraudulently — for example, a duplicate share certificate or property document — additional offences under Sections 415 (cheating), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the PPC may also be committed, with more severe penalties.

A Lost Document Affidavit in Pakistan is needed whenever an original document of legal, administrative, or financial importance has been lost, misplaced, stolen, or destroyed and the issuing authority requires a sworn declaration of loss before issuing a duplicate.

A Lost Document Affidavit is needed when a Pakistani citizen's Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by NADRA has been lost or stolen. NADRA's standard procedure for CNIC replacement requires the applicant to file a police report (FIR) at the nearest police station under the Police Order 2002 and to submit a Lost Document Affidavit sworn before an Oath Commissioner. Without both documents, NADRA will not process the replacement CNIC application. The CNIC is the primary identity document for access to banking, employment, government services, and elections — its loss creates immediate practical difficulties.

A Lost Document Affidavit is required when a Pakistani passport has been lost, destroyed, or stolen — whether in Pakistan or abroad. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports requires the affidavit as part of the passport replacement application, along with a police report from the jurisdiction where the loss occurred. Pakistani missions abroad (High Commissions, Embassies, Consulates General) also accept Lost Document Affidavits sworn before the Pakistani Consul or a local Notary Public for overseas Pakistanis who have lost their passports abroad.

A Lost Document Affidavit is needed when a degree certificate, transcript, mark sheet, or professional qualification document issued by a university, HEC-recognised institution, BISE, or professional regulatory body — such as the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) for medical graduates, the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), or the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) — has been lost and the graduate requires a duplicate. Most academic and professional institutions require both a Lost Document Affidavit and a newspaper announcement of the loss before processing a duplicate request.

A Lost Document Affidavit is required when a property title document — a registered sale deed, a Fard-e-Malkiat (ownership record extract), a lease deed, or a mutation (Intiqal) certificate — has been lost. Revenue authorities and the sub-registrar's office require a sworn affidavit of loss before they will issue certified copies of land records from the official registers maintained under the Land Revenue Act 1967 (Punjab), the Sindh Land Revenue Act 1967, or the KPK Land Revenue Act 1967.

A Lost Document Affidavit is needed when a share certificate for shares held in a publicly listed company through the Central Depository Company (CDC) or in certificate form has been lost. The company's share registrar and the CDC require a Lost Document Affidavit and an Indemnity Bond before issuing a duplicate certificate or transferring shares, protecting the company against double claims on the same shares.

A valid Lost Document Affidavit in Pakistan under the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984 and the Stamp Act 1899 must contain the following essential elements to be accepted by NADRA, courts, educational institutions, revenue authorities, and other bodies.

Stamp Paper: The affidavit must be drafted on non-judicial stamp paper of the denomination required by the provincial stamp duty schedule under the Stamp Act 1899. Standard stamp paper for affidavits is PKR 50 to PKR 100 in Punjab and Sindh. Under Section 35 of the Stamp Act 1899, an unstamped or insufficiently stamped affidavit is inadmissible in evidence. The stamp paper serial number must appear on the document.

Deponent Identification: Full name of the deponent as it appears on their NADRA CNIC, father's or husband's name (standard in Pakistani legal documents), age, occupation, CNIC number (13-digit format), and complete residential address. The deponent must be the person who owned, held, or was responsible for the lost document.

Description of the Lost Document: The affidavit must provide a precise description of the lost document — its type (CNIC, passport, degree certificate, share certificate, title deed, etc.), the issuing authority (NADRA, Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, university name, company name, sub-registrar's office), the document's reference number (CNIC number, passport number, degree serial number, certificate of title number), the date of issuance, and any other identifying particulars. Vague descriptions weaken the affidavit's utility and may cause rejection by the receiving authority.

Circumstances of Loss: The deponent must state the circumstances in which the document was lost — where, when, and how the loss occurred. If the document was stolen, reference to the FIR (First Information Report) filed at the police station under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 should be included, with the FIR number, date, and police station name. If destroyed by fire, flood, or other natural disaster, the circumstances should be described.

Declaration of Non-Transfer or Non-Pledge: The affidavit must include a declaration that the document has not been sold, pledged, assigned, transferred, or delivered to any third party, and is not in the possession of any other person to the best of the deponent's knowledge and belief. This declaration is essential for authorities who need assurance that the original document is not being used fraudulently.

Indemnity Statement: Many issuing authorities — banks, companies, educational institutions — require the deponent to indemnify the issuer against any loss or damage that may result from the issue of a duplicate document if the original is subsequently found and presented. The indemnity clause should be included in the affidavit or in a separate Indemnity Bond executed alongside it.

Request for Duplicate: The affidavit should state the deponent's request that the issuing authority issue a duplicate document in place of the lost original — confirming that the duplicate will be used only for the same purposes as the original and that the original, if found, will be surrendered to the issuing authority.

Verification and Oath: The standard verification clause must state that the contents of the affidavit are true and correct to the best of the deponent's knowledge and belief and that nothing has been concealed. The oath must be administered by an Oath Commissioner, First Class Judicial Magistrate, or Notary Public. The attesting officer must sign, stamp, and date the attestation block. A false declaration constitutes perjury under Section 193 PPC.

Forms-legal.com provides this Lost Document Affidavit (Pakistan) template to assist individuals in meeting the sworn declaration requirements of NADRA, passport authorities, educational institutions, banks, and revenue authorities. Always confirm the specific format and stamp paper requirements of the receiving authority before execution.