IN the evolving landscape of official documentation, a significant concern has emerged, impacting countless citizens during passport application processes. This concern revolves around the absence of a dedicated entry for surnames in the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
When applying for passports, individuals are required to provide distinct entries for their first name, last name and the surname. However, the current structure of the CNIC lacks a specific field for the surname, leading to compli-cations during passport applications. This oversight becomes particularly problematic for individuals whose surnames differ from the name documented in the CNIC.
Take, for instance, my own case. My CNIC states my name as ‘Pardeep Kumar’, while my surname is ‘Maharaj’. Instead, the CNIC mentions ‘Kumar’ as my surname which is factually wrong. This discrepancy creates hurdles during passport applications as authorities insist on accurate surname information. What may seem like a subtle difference becomes a considerable challenge for many citizens, resulting in potential discrepancies in their official documents.
The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) should consider incorporating a dedicated entry for the surname in the CNIC. Such a revision will align seamlessly with the requirements of passport authorities and significantly ease the challenges faced by individuals during passport applications. Ensuring consistency between CNIC and passport information is not merely a matter of convenience; it is a step towards accuracy of official documentation processes for the citizens.
As citizens who take pride in our identity, we believe that this adjustment will enhance the overall experience of obtaining official documents. Nadra’s commitment to innovation and responsiveness to the needs of the people is very well known, and addressing this concern will undoubtedly contribute to the impro-vement of the documentation processes.
Pardeep Kumar Maharaj
Hyderabad
Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2023
