ISLAMABAD, Aug 10: The National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), utilizing its own resources, is providing a platform for e-government and technological advancement to the public and private sector.

This was stated by the authority chairman, Saleem Ahmed Moeen, here on Sunday while speaking at a seminar.

Advancing towards new frontiers of information technology, Nadra has started developing software and programmes for public convenience and good governance, the chairman said.

He said: “The introduction of Verification system ‘VERISYS’ and Biometric Identification System ‘BIOSYS’, which is CNIC centric, brings Pakistan to the list of very few IT advanced nations having such systems.”

The financial institutions like banks, leasing companies, and government agencies etc., which have to validate their customers status, have been using the traditional method of keeping a photocopy of their customers’ NICs. In the age of internet, financial institutions have long been awaiting an online application to verify customer’s identity in a quick and cost-effective manner,” the NADRA chairman said.

“Today, we are in a position to introduce a system of online verification of an individual. Such systems are available in the developed world and discourage fraudulent activities, as each identity card will be verified on line for its authenticity before carrying out any financial or material transaction,” he said.

“Our main task is to compile an accurate database of 140 million Pakistanis. The NADRA project, by any standards, is an extremely difficult assignment, given the complexity of our social structure and the influence of numerous intangible factors beyond the control of technology,” he said.

Mr Moeen said NADRA’s new online identity verification service, called VERISYS, would help the financial institutions positively establish their customers’ identities through a dial- up connection or virtual private network.

He said the BIOSYS system, which authenticated the fingerprints directly through the original one, was stored in the database at Islamabad. The system can improve the current cash disbursement system, incorporating NADRA’s cutting edge technological research in biometric systems, thus eliminating chances of ghost recipients during disbursement.

BIOSYS is proprietary software developed by NADRA, that allows fast and efficient authentication with a simple interface. It uses biometric information (thumb impressions) to identify each user within a matter of seconds, thereby, greatly reducing the time it takes for disbursement officer to establish the identity of the recipient.

The authority chief said the use of biometrics system was the safest for ATM transactions, disbursement of Zakat, pension and all other cash transactions with transparency and accuracy.

He said the authority had issued about 29 million Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) in the country. He said almost 30 million Pakistanis had so far applied for CNICs, out of which 29 million were issued the cards.

Mr Moeen said the authority had maintained the record of about 46 million Pakistanis including minors since its establishment.