Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi undertook important visit of NADRA headquarters.
He took several decisions about National Identity Cards (NICs), protection of bio-metric and digital services while presiding over the meeting therein.
During the visit interior minister laid foundation stone of 10-storey NADRA Mega centre in sector I-8 Islamabad which is likely to be completed in June 2026.
It was decided in the meeting that all mobile sims registered on time barred National Identity Cards (NICs) issued in 2017 or earlier will be blocked forthwith. In the next phase, this policy will be applicable to the cards which were cancelled after 2017.
Mobile sims will function only on active identity cards. This action is being taken in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The sims issued on the national identity cards of dead persons are also being blocked.
Chairman NADRA Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar told in the meeting that different government departments are preserving bio metric information of citizens in their separate data basis. This has enhanced the fear of stealing of data and its misuse. Interior ministry has issued directive to all departments for stopping them from making separate bio-metric data base.
Interior minister directed that Facial Recognition System (FRS) be completed before December 31, 2025 in the country. Interior ministry will monitor it.
He pointed out that NADRA services have been extended to 44 new tehsils and specific union councils. NADRA services will be available in all 31 union councils of Islamabad till December 31, 2025.
Interior minister accorded approval to establish new regional offices of NADRA in Multan, Sukkar and Gawadar.
NADRA chairman told in the meeting that the institution has made remarkable headway in service delivery and digital change during last year. Important amendments have been approved in national identity cards rule -2002. Registration certificates of children and families have been updated for curbing fraud and legal clarification.
State interior minister Talal Chaudhry and senior officers of NADRA were present on the occasion.