After Belgium and Germany, Smart NICs to be launched in Pakistan

E-Paper | June 15, 2026

Germany and Belgium had made experience of smart cards and now Pakistan was in a position to launch such a card. - AP Photo

ISLAMABAD: National Registration and Database Authority (Nadra) will issue a new Smart National Identity Card (NIC) which will be the safest and secured as it cannot be replicated, Chairman Nadra Tariq Malik said

Talking to a private news channel, Malik said that a chip will be fixed in the card which would help government to provide facilities like health, life insurance and donation in case of disaster in the country.

He said that the new smart card will be distinguished from the earlier one as it will have thirty six features.

Nadra Chairman said that Germany and Belgium had made experience of smart NICs and now Pakistan was in a position to launch such a card.

He said price of the new card would not exceed the price of the prevailing card.

Earlier on Friday while briefing the Cabinet about the features of the Smart NIC, the Chairman had said that the new card would help the holders of the card access the entitled cash disbursement programmes, financial transactions, branch-less banking, health insurance, life insurance and electronic voting.

Malik said Pakistan was preparing identity management system for Nigeria and civil registration program for Sudan was also in progress.

He said Nadra had prepared driving license of Bangladesh, passport of Kenya, refuge system of United Nation and Pakistan poverty support card for World Bank.

Nadra was among fifty top class identity companies in the world, he stated.

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MKH

Jul 22, 2012 07:03pm

Wake up brother. Did you ever stay in lines to get a card in summers and the hurdles that they create. If you call this an excellence, God help the other institutions.

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DARR

Jul 22, 2012 06:41pm

High tech chip in a country with poor electricity / computers ?

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Mahboob

Jul 22, 2012 12:27pm

What? Pakistan after Germany and Belgium for Smart NICs. Have we met all other needs like power, health, education, etc that we worry about Smart NICs. I think its another attempt to rob the national exchequer again.

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Syed Ali Hasnain

Jul 22, 2012 09:13am

It is a great improvement and i hops it will keep continue of this program. New features and new teachnology will support at all places. Syed Ali Hasnain Rizvi

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sajid

Jul 22, 2012 05:26pm

India implented this project years behind Pakistan.

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SQH

Jul 22, 2012 05:24pm

Read the article again butt jee? nothing is being outsourced. In fact NADRA is helping other countries for their identity systems.

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ram

Jul 22, 2012 04:46pm

Just check the Forms for NRI English & Urdu compulsary to fill in. Info of parents dead long ago is to advised Still has faith distinction.Minorit injustice was cause for creating Pakistan,but form wants to know yr faith Jinnah said First Pakistani and next faith,any LA and New York consualate are Post office to mail to Nadra. Still finds excusable faults to return

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drkhalidfcps

Jul 22, 2012 02:01pm

NADRA is simply a card-issuing authority (NID, Passport, etc). You pay they issue. No proper verification system exist. Police, CID, NADRA employees, Passport employees and Refugee department employees all earn and help the offenders than catching them. How can you expect things to go the right way. Until honest setup is made (which is very defficult in Pakistan if not impossible) NADRA like institutions are of no use.

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SaaD

Jul 22, 2012 09:09am

Overseas Pakistanis still won't be able to get it easily due to lack of infrastructure in resources in overseas missions like Pakistani Embassies and Consulates :( We are still not able to apply for Digital/Machine Readable passports easily over here in Saudi Arabia; At least not without having to stand in never ending queues in scorching heat under the blazing Sun. Pakistan's consular mission are a waste and way too hopeless. I'd suggest that they try to enhance the existing infrastructure and services offered rather than venturing into challenges.

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nas

Jul 22, 2012 05:02pm

why is pakitstan soworry about making this smart cards, when the country should tackle better issues like education, welfare

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Ahmed

Jul 22, 2012 10:00am

NADRA is one of the few institutions in the country that are not only doing their job properly (by and large) but also excelling in certain areas. Being involved with other countries of the world just signifies that NADRA is good enough at international level. Hats off to the leaders and the work force of NADRA.

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t singh

Jul 23, 2012 02:59pm

world doesn't revolve around india. but any country having this program should be mentioned here. it may be india or Belgium

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emad

Jul 24, 2012 07:08am

such a poor nation.dnt understand why these people making such nic card just to rob pakistanis information to sell outside the country..nothing more..some of our brothers writing its great.it looks great,why u guys are so dumps, u r giving away your own personal information to goverment agenices,they will sell u out .very soon.

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Usman

Jul 23, 2012 11:14am

No one is forcing you to get one.

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Usman Ahmad

Jul 22, 2012 04:19pm

Link please?

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Khalq e Khuda

Jul 22, 2012 04:43pm

India is yet to issue any nationwide identity document and the NIC issuance is still in process while Pakistan has already implementedit.

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Jacko

Jul 22, 2012 01:52pm

Contrary to what a lot of Indians believe, the world does not revolve around India

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omer khan shaheen

Jul 22, 2012 11:48am

Excellent Work NADRA! I just hope their services and offices expand with the population.

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Tanveer Ahmed

Jul 22, 2012 11:57am

What a great job! In Pakistanis 90% illiterate, they do not have even money to buy two times food for their familiies. Prices of essential items are exhobirant. It is nothing but another way of corruption in a corrupt currupt country.

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Umer S

Jul 22, 2012 12:32pm

Great!!! It took me almost a year to get the current CNICs for my family overseas. I will have to go through the hassle again? My anguish aside...electronic voting seems interesting and promising.

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ROHIT PANDEY

Jul 22, 2012 12:27pm

India has a project of this type...wonder why it was not mentioned?

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butt jee

Jul 22, 2012 12:41pm

A very risky affair to out source handling of sensitive information about Pakistani citizens. With the pessage of time many non Pakistanis will be able to obtain this card from these outlets, posing a serious threat to national security. Never heard of any country doing this kind of thing.

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educated_indian

Jul 22, 2012 02:39pm

because india does the same.. have a good one

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Samir

Jul 22, 2012 01:20pm

@Tanveer: So what is your point.90% illiterate are not because of NADRA and it has nothing to do with ID card

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asghar

Jul 22, 2012 09:58am

Great job !! Being a loyal Pakistani i request the NADRA authorities to please do something about so many non Pakistani nationales obtaining CNICs, by just giving few thousands of bribes. A huge number of Afghani nationales are getting CNICs. One suggestion i would like to give is to start some programme on the net where one can report the illegal CNICs to NADRA.

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PARVEEZ

Jul 22, 2012 07:42pm

Great news, but will this stop non Pakistani to get a Pakistani passport in the UK ,in London, for £400, or so. This is a fact, and I have seen this, and not heard from a source.

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Salim Shaikh

Jul 22, 2012 08:28pm

A good and doable suggestion...

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yee

Jul 22, 2012 10:15pm

100% i agreed agreed

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Ozzi

Jul 22, 2012 11:26pm

I agree with Mahboob, Pakistani needs the power, water and some security. Not ID cards. Why don,t we ask Germany and Belgium to help us building power plants. stop stealing the money from poor people. please.

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Umer

Jul 24, 2012 07:14am

true but step by step we can move forward... good work NADRA!

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Noorani

Jul 23, 2012 05:34am

India with five times more population than Pakistan can live without any Identity card, why do Pakistanis need an Identity card? It is only used as one more source to make money.

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muzammil Raza

Jul 23, 2012 06:15am

it would be fantastic as it would help track the people also.... we want the most advanced, technologised and prosperous Pakistan. every step towards advancement should be taken quickly as we are far behind of other nations...

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FArrukh

Jul 23, 2012 06:36am

nice job doing nadra

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Ahmed

Jul 23, 2012 07:02am

India not living with an ID card does not mean that its a good thing NOT having a central registration system ! Not everything India does is right and not everything Pakistan does is wrong.

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Waleed Ikram

Jul 23, 2012 07:05am

Well Done NADRA Proud to be a Pakistani!!

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moeenuddin mohmand

Jul 24, 2012 08:37am

like the ideas i hope it materialise also and public should b benefited also.....

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