Almost every step after a court decision needs a naqal. You cannot file an appeal, a revision, an execution petition or even prove your case elsewhere without a certified copy of the judgment, decree or order. In Pakistan the process is handled by the copying agency (copying branch) attached to each court, under the High Court Rules and Orders and the Court Fees Act 1870. This guide walks you through the application, the fees, the timelines, and the two rules every litigant must know - how a naqal is proved as evidence, and how it protects your appeal deadline.
What a certified copy (naqal) is
A certified copy is an official reproduction of a document already on the court record - a judgment, decree, final or interim order, plaint, written statement, deposition, or exhibit - that the copying agency has compared with the original and attested as a true copy. It bears the court's stamp, the date the copy was applied for, the date it was ready, and the signature or seal of the copying official. Because it is a certified copy of a public document, it carries legal weight in its own right and does not require you to produce the original file.
The word "naqal" simply means copy in Urdu. In court practice it refers specifically to this attested, fee-paid copy - not a plain photocopy, which has no evidentiary standing.
Who can apply
A party to the case can obtain a copy of any part of the record on paying the prescribed fee. A person who is not a party may also obtain a copy, but must show good cause for the request. In practice, your advocate applies on your behalf on the strength of the vakalatnama already on file, or a fresh authority letter. If you are applying in person, carry your CNIC and the exact case reference.
You will need the case number, the names of the parties, the name of the court or judge, and the date of the judgment or order you want copied. The more precise these details, the faster the copying branch can trace the record.
The step-by-step procedure
The mechanics are broadly the same across the district judiciary, the High Courts and the Supreme Court, with local variations in forms and counters:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Obtain the form | Collect the copy application (naqal form) from the copying agency counter, or download it from the court website and print it. |
| 2. Fill in case details | Enter the case number, parties, court, and the exact document and date you want copied. Specify ordinary or urgent service. |
| 3. Affix court fee | Fix the required court fee stamps and pay the copying or folio charges per page. A small court fee stamp is affixed on each certified copy issued. |
| 4. Submit at the counter | File the stamped form at the copying branch. You receive a receipt or token with a collection date. |
| 5. Record verification | The copying staff trace the file, compare the copy against the original, and attest it as a true copy. |
| 6. Collect the naqal | Return on the given date with your receipt and collect the stamped, attested certified copy. |
Tip: Apply for the naqal on the very day the judgment is pronounced. The clock on your appeal is measured from that date, and the earlier you apply, the more of the processing time is excluded from your limitation period.
Fees and timelines
Certified copy fees in Pakistan are deliberately low and are set by court rules under the Court Fees Act 1870. Exact rates differ from court to court and are revised periodically, so treat the figures below as a guide and confirm the current schedule at the copying counter:
| Charge | Basis | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Copying / folio charge | Per page of the record copied | A few rupees per page (varies) |
| Court fee stamp | Fixed stamp on each certified copy | Nominal (varies by court) |
| Ordinary service | Standard processing | 3-5 working days |
| Urgent service | Extra urgency fee | 24-48 hours |
The total cost depends mainly on how many pages the record runs to. A short two-page order costs very little; a long judgment with annexures costs more. Urgent service adds a per-page or flat urgency charge on top. Because these rates and timelines vary by court and change over time, and the amount payable is small, it is safest to verify at the copying branch or ask your advocate. For court fee calculations on the wider case, our court fee calculator can help you plan ahead.
Why the naqal decides your appeal deadline
This is the single most important reason to apply for a certified copy promptly. Under Section 12 of the Limitation Act 1908, when you compute the limitation period for an appeal, an application for leave to appeal, or a review of judgment, two things are excluded: the day the judgment was pronounced, and the time requisite for obtaining a copy of the decree or order appealed from. Where a decree is appealed, the time for obtaining a copy of the judgment on which it is founded is also excluded.
Pakistani courts read "time requisite" narrowly. It means only the interval between the date you applied for the copy and the date it was ready for delivery - not the time you take to collect it, and not any delay caused by your own default. So the moment you apply for the naqal, you start protecting your deadline; if you sit on the judgment before applying, that lost time is not excluded. Deadlines for appeals and reviews are strict, so read our guide to limitation periods in Pakistan alongside this one.
Using a naqal as evidence
A certified copy is not just an administrative convenience - it has evidentiary force. Under the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984, certified copies of public documents, which include the records and proceedings of courts, are admissible as secondary evidence to prove the contents of the original. Where an original judicial record is unavailable and only a certified copy exists, a certified copy of that certified copy is also admissible. This is why banks, land record offices, foreign missions and other courts accept a naqal where a plain photocopy would be rejected.
Where to apply: district courts, High Courts, Supreme Court
Every tier of the judiciary has its own copying arrangement:
| Forum | Where you apply |
|---|---|
| District & civil courts | Copying agency at the district court complex where the case was decided. |
| High Courts | Copying branch of the relevant High Court, at the principal seat or bench. |
| Supreme Court | Information desk / copying section at Islamabad, or a Branch Registry at Karachi, Lahore, Quetta or Peshawar. |
If you are unsure which court holds your record, first confirm your case details - our guides on checking case status online and reading the cause list help you pin down the court, judge and date before you file the naqal form. To understand which court decided or should have decided your matter, see district courts in Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a naqal and a photocopy?
A naqal is a certified copy compared against the original and attested by the court's copying agency, with fee stamps and dates recorded. A plain photocopy is not certified and has no independent evidentiary value.
How long does a certified copy take?
Ordinary service is usually 3 to 5 working days; urgent service, at a higher fee, is generally ready within 24 to 48 hours. Longer records take longer.
How much does a naqal cost?
Only a small amount - per-page copying or folio charges plus court fee stamps, with an extra urgency fee for fast service. Rates vary by court, so confirm at the copying counter.
Can my lawyer collect the certified copy for me?
Yes. Your advocate can apply and collect on your behalf using the vakalatnama on record or an authority letter. Non-parties may apply on showing good cause.
Does the copying time affect my appeal deadline?
Yes. Under Section 12 of the Limitation Act 1908, the time requisite for obtaining the certified copy is excluded from the limitation period for appeals and reviews - counted from the date you applied to the date it was ready.
Is a certified copy accepted as evidence in other proceedings?
Yes. Under the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984, certified copies of public documents, including court records, are admissible as secondary evidence.