ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORTER
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the headquarters of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). An important meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Interior Minister during which several major decisions were made.
Mohsin Naqvi also laid the foundation stone of a 10-storey NADRA Mega Center in Sector I-8. The completion of the NADRA Mega Center in Islamabad’s Sector I-8 is expected by June 2026.
During the meeting, it was decided to block all SIM cards issued against expired CNICs immediately. In the first phase, SIMs issued against CNICs from 2017 or earlier will be blocked. In subsequent phases, the same policy will apply to deactivated CNICs issued after 2017, ensuring that only active CNICs are used for issuing SIMs.
Chairman NADRA Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar, while giving a briefing, said that in collaboration with PTA, mobile SIMs registered under the names of deceased individuals or those with expired CNICs are being blocked. He further stated that various government departments and service providers are storing citizens’ biometric data in local databases, which puts this sensitive information at risk of misuse and theft. He added that a facial recognition system should be used, benefiting especially those citizens who face issues with fingerprint verification, by utilizing NADRA’s secure and verified database.
Mohsin Naqvi stated that the Ministry of Interior will issue directives to all relevant institutions to stop storing citizens’ biometric data separately. On the Interior Minister’s instructions, facial recognition technology will be implemented nationwide by December 31, 2025, and this process will be supervised by the Ministry of Interior.
Interior Minister mentioned that NADRA services have been extended to 44 tehsils and specific union councils across the country where these services were previously unavailable. In all 31 union councils of Islamabad, NADRA services will be made available by June 30, 2025.
The Interior Minister emphasized the importance of providing better services to overseas Pakistanis. He directed a comprehensive assessment in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify those countries and regions where NADRA services are most needed.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also approved the establishment of NADRA regional offices in Multan, Sukkur, and Gwadar.
Chairman NADRA Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar gave a detailed briefing on the authority’s outreach, service delivery, and progress on digital transformation. The Interior Minister reviewed the progress of reforms in NADRA and appreciated its significant achievements in the past year, which include the establishment of 87 new registration centers and 417 additional counters.
The briefing revealed that the federal government has approved significant amendments to the National Identity Card (NIC) Rules 2002. The registration certificates for children and families have been updated to ensure legal clarity and prevent fraud.
Furthermore, NADRA has introduced an effective identity verification system incorporating facial recognition and iris scanning as additional biometric measures.
In this context, NADRA is continuing necessary cooperation with PTA, FIA, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and other relevant institutions to combat identity fraud, SIM misuse, and biometric discrepancies.
It was also shared that NADRA is focusing heavily on enhancing the features and utility of the PAK ID mobile App, which has been downloaded over 7 million times. Recently added features to the app include digital ID issuance, “proof of life” for pensioners, and renewal of federal arms licenses.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry and senior NADRA officials were also present on the occasion.
