ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the food department of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have joined hands to enhance efficiency and transparency of the wheat subsidy programme in GB. Under an agreement signed on Friday, Nadra will provide CNIC verification services to ensure accurate identification and verification of beneficiaries eligible for the wheat subsidy.

The contract signing ceremony held at the Nadra headquarters was attended by senior officials from both organisations.

The partnership aims to streamline the implementation of the subsidy programme, improving its effectiveness and ensuring that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Ameenullah Ghaznavi, Director Food Department GB, expressed his appreciation for Nadra’s support in the initiative.

Nadra’s Chief Project Officer Rehman Qamar commended the GB team for their dedication and assured them of continued cooperation in upcoming projects designed to improve public welfare and governance in the region.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Christian community, led by former federal minister Kamran Michael, visited Nadra headquarters on Friday. The visit was aimed at discussing ways to improve the registration process for the Christian community and addressing the challenges faced in obtaining identity documents.

During the meeting with Nadra Chairman Lieutenant General Mohammad Munir Afsar, Mr Michael emphasised the need for increasing the frequency of Nadra’s mobile registration van (MRV) visits to areas with a high concentration of Christian residents.

The Nadra chairman briefed the delegation about special registration campaigns for minority communities, including MRV operations. He said Nadra remains committed to supporting the registration of minority individuals and would increase the frequency of MRV visits to areas where they were most needed.

The delegation expressed their appreciation for MRV activities, acknowledging that these initiatives had significantly improved access to Nadra services for the Christian community.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2025