ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has declared that a digital identity card is equivalent to a physical identity card.
NADRA has declared that the digital identity card carries the same legal status as the physical CNIC. The authority said some government offices and institutions still demand a physical card or photocopy instead of the digital version.
NADRA termed this practice against the existing legal and regulatory framework. According to the authority, digital identity regulations were issued under the NADRA Ordinance.
Regulations 9 and 10 grant full legal recognition to digital identity credentials. Officials said these rules recognise digital identity documents as valid proof of identity.
They also reduce the need for unnecessary photocopies of identity cards. NADRA added that the move helps protect citizens’ personal data and prevents misuse of identity information.
The authority directed all government departments, public institutions, financial organisations, and telecom operators to ensure compliance with the rules.
Citizens can also file complaints through NADRA’s official complaint system if institutions refuse to accept the digital identity card.
NADRA Cancels 4.2 million CNICs
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has taken crucial steps to ensure the complete accuracy and further stability of the National Identity Card System, canceling 4.2 million computerized national identity cards (CNICs).
According to a NADRA spokesperson, with the completion of the work of matching the civil registration record with the national citizen database, 4.2 million identity cards were canceled under the NADRA Ordinance and the Identity Card Rules.
The authority spokesperson said that these people were registered as deceased in the civil registration system, but their CNICs were not canceled by their relatives.
According to a NADRA spokesperson, the relatives registered the deceased people with provincial institutions but did not update the NADRA record.
Due to recent supportive measures, the relatives of 3 million people canceled their identity cards, while 4.2 million identity cards remained active despite the registration of death in the civil registration system.
The authority said that if the identity card of any citizen is canceled by mistake, they should contact NADRA and obtain information from the union council. “The correction should be made in the Union Council (UC), and the record should be updated in NADRA,” the official statement added.
The birth of 14 million children has been registered in the UCs, but they are not registered with NADRA, officials said.
“NADRA is sending reminder SMS to the parents or guardians of such children so that they can fill out Form B as soon as possible for registration.”
