MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): NADRA CNIC impoundment has led to the confiscation of over 80,000 identity cards across Pakistan in the past five years due to suspected fraud and verification concerns.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has confiscated over 80,000 questionable Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) over the past five years. According to data the authority released a province-wise breakdown of the impounded cards, covering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
A total of 80,847 CNICs were placed on the impoundment list, with KP leading in numbers, where 28,645 identity cards were flagged by the authority. Balochistan followed with 21,839 confiscations, while Punjab saw 13,899. In Sindh, 14,076 CNICs are either blocked or under review, alongside 1,259 in Islamabad, 667 in Azad Kashmir, and 462 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Under Section 18 of the NADRA Ordinance 2000, the authority has the power to cancel, impound, or seize identity cards. Individuals are required to justify their eligibility if there are reasons to believe their CNICs were fraudulently obtained; whether by falsely claiming eligibility, acquiring multiple CNICs under the same criteria, tampering with card details, or using forged documents. Previously, NADRA had blocked or withheld around 100,000 CNICs after suspecting their legitimacy as part of a broader initiative to identify non-nationals holding Pakistani identity cards.
NADRA operates a highly secure system, yet, according to sources, a significant number of blocked or suspect CNICs were issued to Afghan nationals. One NADRA official questioned how such cases were possible despite the advanced system, commenting that without a recorded family tree or prior history within NADRA’s database, non-citizens could not be issued CNICs. However, some affected individuals insist they are genuine Pakistani citizens and have expressed their frustration over their CNICs being blocked despite showing proper proof of their nationality.
NADRAs digitisation
Meanwhile, the previous month, NADRA transitioned its services from a website to a mobile application to handle problems faced by users, particularly overseas Pakistanis, who experienced problems with the online platform, such as scanning and uploading fingerprints and documents. The decision to shut down the website also aimed to curb dishonest actions.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the move, highlighting worries over scammers exploiting fake websites to facilitate the creation of forged identity documents and misuse of citizens’ data. To improve accessibility, NADRA’s updated mobile app currently offers all the services previously available on the website, allowing people to apply for ID cards, NICOP, POC, B-Forms, and FRCs from home.
The minister also stated that NADRA was working towards setting up offices in all tehsils across Pakistan. Only 19 tehsils remain without a NADRA office. Efforts are being made to make sure these are operational by March 31. This initiative shows the government’s dedication to improving accessibility and safety while facilitating services for citizens nationwide.
