The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has retracted its earlier commitment to facilitate facial-recognition-based SIM verification through its Pak ID mobile application. This unexpected move has compelled the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cellular network providers to explore alternative solutions for implementing this technology across the country.
Initially proposed by NADRA in 2025, the plan to use the Pak ID app for facial verification led to the development and successful proof of concept by mobile operators. However, following continued discussions, NADRA has now reversed its stance and announced that the facial-verification feature within the Pak ID app will no longer be available for SIM issuance purposes. This change threatens to delay the rollout of a digital verification system that would allow subscribers to authenticate their identity using facial recognition instead of relying solely on traditional biometric methods at SIM registration points.
In a significant development, NADRA has suggested that cellular operators should instead install dedicated hardware on their premises to enable facial-recognition services. The PTA and telecom industry are currently evaluating the technical, operational, and financial ramifications of this alternative approach. This proposal must also adhere to NADRA’s recently enacted “Regulations on Requisite Access to National Data Warehouse,” published on July 28, 2026, which govern access to critical national data.
The withdrawal of the Pak ID app option has forced the regulator and operators to reconsider the initial facial-recognition verification framework. As a result, at least one cellular service provider is investigating the possibility of integrating biometric verification, including facial recognition, into its own mobile application. This initiative is undergoing a technical feasibility assessment, and if viable, will proceed to proof-of-concept testing and further development. Such a move could offer an alternative pathway to implement facial-recognition-based SIM verification without depending on NADRA’s Pak ID platform.
The PTA presented this update during a Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat meeting on August 21, 2026, which focused on progress related to enabling SIM issuance through NADRA’s Pak ID app and deploying facial-recognition technology nationwide at SIM issuance points. The regulator emphasized that the objective remains under active consideration and that alternative methods are being explored following NADRA’s revised position.
Looking ahead, the PTA and telecom sector will need to decide whether installing dedicated hardware at operator locations or utilizing operator-owned mobile apps can provide a secure and technically feasible facial verification solution. This process is expected to involve further technical evaluations and proof-of-concept trials before any large-scale implementation.
In addition to facial verification, the briefing also addressed the valuation and taxation of imported mobile phones, including the reassessment of older models and the rationalisation of related duties and taxes. The PTA clarified its role as limited to the technical evaluation of mobile devices, noting that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) holds exclusive authority over duties and tax administration.
Nonetheless, the PTA expressed support for rationalising mobile device taxes to enhance smartphone affordability, aligning with the government’s digital transformation goals. The regulator stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced taxation framework that supports local mobile phone manufacturing while discouraging illegal imports and illicit activities such as IMEI tampering. This balanced approach aims to simultaneously improve consumer affordability, protect domestic industry, and combat unlawful practices.
The Senate committee’s briefing highlighted two concurrent challenges for Pakistan’s telecom sector: advancing secure and user-friendly digital identity verification for SIM issuance, and establishing a taxation regime for mobile devices that promotes affordability without undermining local manufacturing or encouraging illegal trade.
Ultimately, the immediate obstacle remains NADRA’s decision to withdraw the facial-verification facility from the Pak ID application, despite the initial proposal originating from NADRA and the completion of proof-of-concept work by operators. The PTA and telecom industry are now actively assessing alternative solutions, including dedicated hardware installations and operator-based mobile apps, to determine the most viable approach for nationwide deployment.
