ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The government has decided to start blocking all mobile phone SIMs that are registered against expired CNICs (identity cards), beginning with those linked to CNICs issued in 2017 or earlier. This will be the first phase of a broader plan.
At a later stage, this policy will also apply to SIMs tied to CNICs issued after 2017 but later cancelled.
The decision came during a high-level meeting held at Nadra headquarters in Islamabad, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and senior Nadra officials were also present.
Officials agreed that only SIMs connected to currently valid CNICs will remain operational.
During the meeting, the Nadra chairman shared updates on efforts to expand services, improve access, and drive digital upgrades. He said Nadra had set up 87 new registration centres and added 417 counters across the country. The federal government has also cleared key changes to the National Identity Card Rules 2002.
The chairman noted that Nadra’s new facial recognition system will help those who struggle with fingerprint verification. He added that SIMs registered to individuals who have passed away or hold expired ID cards will also be blocked without delay.
He stressed the need to rely on Nadra’s secure and verified databases for facial recognition, warning that while citizens’ biometric information is stored locally, it remains at risk of misuse if not properly protected.
Interior Minister Naqvi, who is working in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared that Nadra services have been introduced in 44 tehsils and union councils where they were not available before. He said all 31 union councils in Islamabad will have Nadra services by June 30.
He also directed officials to assess which overseas locations need Nadra services the most and gave the green light for new regional offices to be set up in Multan, Sukkur, and Gwadar.
Naqvi further ordered that all separate biometric data storage systems used by related agencies be phased out. He said facial recognition technology must be rolled out nationwide by December 31, 2025, with the Interior Ministry overseeing the process.
During the meeting, Naqvi also laid the foundation stone for a 10-storey Nadra Mega Centre in Sector I-8, Islamabad. The building is expected to be ready by June 2026.
