• Mohsin directs the implementation of the facial recognition system in December
• Check Nadra’s reforms
Islamabad: The Government decided on Friday to immediately block all cards in the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) issued against CNIC expired.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, at the headquarters of the National Data Authority and Registry (NADRA) here.
In the first phase, the Sims issued against the CNICs from 2017 or before will be blocked. In the subsequent phases, the same policy will be applied to deactivate SIM cards issued against CNIC issued after 2017, ensuring that only active identity cards are used to issue SIM.
NAQVI, speaking on the occasion, declared that the Ministry of Interior will issue directives to all relevant institutions to stop storing the biometric data of citizens separately.
He instructed that facial recognition technology would be implemented throughout the country before December 31 and this process will be supervised by the Interior Ministry.
NAQVI emphasized the importance of providing better services to Pakistani abroad, directing a comprehensive evaluation in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify those countries and regions where Nadra services are more necessary.
He also approved the establishment of the regional authorities of the authority in fine, Sukkur and Gwadar.
The president of the Nadra, the Muhammad Munir Aphsar gene, gave an informative session on the scope, the provision of services and the progress of the authority in the digital transformation.
The Interior Minister reviewed the progress of the reforms in Nadra and appreciated their significant achievements in the last year, which include the establishment of 87 new registration centers and 417 additional accountants.
AFSAR said that several government departments and service providers are storing biometric data from citizens in local databases, which puts this confidential information at risk of misuse and robbery.
He added that a facial recognition system should be used, especially benefiting those citizens who face problems with the verification of digital fingerprints, using the Safe and Verified Database of NADRA.
Registration certificates for children and families have been updated to guarantee legal clarity and prevent fraud. In addition, Nadra has introduced an effective identity verification system that incorporates facial recognition and iris scan as additional biometric measures.
The authority continues the necessary cooperation with the PTA, the FIA, the State Bank of Pakistan, the Pakistan Stock Exchange and Securities Commission and other relevant institutions to combat identity fraud, misuse and biometric discrepancies.
It was also shared that the authority is largely focusing on improving the characteristics and usefulness of the Pak ID mobile application, which has been downloaded more than seven million times. Its recently added characteristics include the digital identification emission, “life test” for pensioners and the renewal of federal weapons licenses.
Mr. Naqvi also placed the base of a 10-story center Nadra Mega Center in sector I-8. The end of the Mega Center is expected in June 2026.
The Minister of State of the Interior Talal Chaudhry and the senior officials of the NADRA were also present on the occasion.
Posted in Dawn, May 31, 2025
