Lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly passed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026 by a majority vote, removing the requirement for religious seminaries registered with the federal Directorate General of Religious Education to undergo separate re-registration within the province.
Seminaries currently holding registration with the Directorate General of Religious Education are freed from provincial re-registration under the new legislation, and future institutions that register federally will likewise avoid needing a separate provincial permit.
Legislators introduced this amendment to clear up the legal status of seminaries, simplify the registration framework, and remove difficulties tied to dual registration.
The legislation introduces a fresh clause 1A to Section 21 of the Societies Registration Act, granting an exemption from Punjab re-registration to any seminary holding federal Directorate General of Religious Education credentials.
Lawmakers included the provision for upcoming seminary registrations following advice from the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee, moving the bill to the floor for a majority vote once the committee submitted its report.
The Governor of Punjab must now review and approve the amendment bill passed by the Punjab Assembly before it officially becomes law.
