RAWALPINDI, Sept 7: Delay in release of computerized national identity cards by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) is causing great inconvenience to the people, this reporter has learnt.

Scores of applicants, who had applied for a computerized national identity cards about a year ago are still shuttling between different branches of the Authority but to no avail.

An applicant, Rafique, told this reporter that Nadra had set up a camp on Jehangir Road in 2001 for issuance of new cards. Mr Rafique said like everyone he too furnished relevant documents with the officials of the Authority and was issued a receipt. “The Nadra officials told me that the new card would be posted at my home address but I never got the card.”

Mr Rafique said last month he contacted the Nadra office on the Mall and told the officer concerned that he had been shuttling between the Satellite Town and the Mall branches of the Authority to collect his card. He said the official assured him that the card would be posted to him in next few days but the card was not issued to him.

Another applicant, Aziz, told this correspondent that Nadra office had issued him a card on December 26, 2001, carrying his name as Uzair. Aziz said he contacted the Authority on May 28, 2002 for correction but the error had still not been rectified. “Visiting the Satellite Town and the Mall branches of the Authority time and again is a nightmare for me, as I live on the outskirts of Rawalpindi,” said Aziz. Abdul Ahad, another applicant, is waiting for his card since 2001.

A journalist, who had applied for a new card at the Mall branch on July 10, was asked to collect his card on August 10 from the same office.

However, when he visited the branch on the date in question, he was asked to collect his card from the Satellite Town branch, as the Authority had changed its policy. When this reporter contacted Mr Asif at the customer services centre of Nadra, he said being a new setup Nadra had to make changes in its policy to make its functioning better.