The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is intensifying efforts to reach underserved populations by deploying mobile registration vans to remote locations across Pakistan from April 6 to April 11. This initiative is designed to provide vital registration services to residents living far from NADRA offices, ensuring broader access to identity documentation.
Citizens can check the detailed schedule and specific locations of these mobile units on NADRA’s official website. Meanwhile, in a significant development, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior has approved a government bill aimed at strengthening NADRA’s authority over identity documents to bolster national security.
The bill, introduced in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar under the Interior Ministry’s guidance, will now proceed to the full Senate session for final approval. It proposes granting NADRA the power to suspend any Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) for up to 60 days. This move addresses concerns about the sensitive nature of identity cards, which are closely tied to national security and economic stability.
Officials emphasize that misuse of these documents poses significant risks, and current legal ambiguities have hindered NADRA’s ability to act swiftly. Criminals have exploited these loopholes to delay or evade legal processes, undermining security efforts. The new legislation aims to empower NADRA to respond more effectively to suspicious or fraudulent identity activities, enhancing enforcement and preventing abuse of the national identification system.
In addition to mobile units, NADRA has expanded its service reach by increasing the number of e-Sahulat franchises offering selected registration services to approximately 3,000 centers nationwide, up from 2,000. This expansion allows citizens to access services such as issuance of B-Forms for children under 10, CNIC renewals, duplicate card issuance for lost IDs, and cancellation of identity cards of deceased relatives at more convenient locations.
The extended services are now available in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and numerous districts across Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This strategy aims to ease the workload on NADRA offices and bring essential services closer to the public, improving overall accessibility and efficiency.
