08 February 2004	Sunday	16 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has so far issued 34 million cards to applicants since 2001. In an official announcement , the Nadra said it issued one million computerized national identity cards (CNICs) to the applicants during the month of January.

Interior Minister Syed Faisal Hayat had announced to extend the deadline of cut-off date to another month (January 31, 2004) during the Senate session on the complaint of Senators.

On a point of order, the minister while replying to a point of order had announced that for the convenience of those who have not applied for CNICs, the government has extended the deadline of old manual identity cards for one month, which was to be expired on December 31, 2003.

Earlier, due to the announcement of cut off date of old manual identity cards as December 31, 2002 by the government, the burden on NSRC and DROs had increased enormously. Keeping in view the requirements of applicants it was decided by Nadra to make operational more NSRCs and DROs to facilitate general public. A large number of people remained without CNIC as they had not applied.

Owing to this non-serious behaviour, the government extended the cut-off date by March 31, 2003. In March 2003, the government once again extended the cut off date of old NIC. Some 6,543,604 CNIC were issued to the applicants during year 2003.

The announcement said the Nadra was also carrying out efforts to ensure prompt delivery of CNIC to all applicants adding that in 2002, NADRA introduced a new system for filling applications, through first pilot project of Nadra Swift Registration Centre (NSRC) commercial market Rawalpindi.