THE common citizen’s interactions with the bureaucracy are rarely pleasant in Pakistan. But over the last 26 years, at least where securing identity documents is concerned, Nadra has attempted to streamline this process. The latest development in this regard is the move to make proof of life certificates required by pensioners free, and to expand the channels through which senior citizens can access the document. Seniors can now personally, or through an immediate family member, access the certificates through the PakID mobile app, eliminating the need for physical verification. Nadra also recently created the National Pensioners Register to help eliminate fraud, and streamline verification. Moreover, the authority has announced the launch of QR-based ID cards, which will replace chip-based cards. This should help reduce data entry errors.

The creation of Nadra in 2000 resulted in the replacement of the old National Identity Cards — which were much easier to forge — with computerised IDs. Though the authority has achieved much over the decades, there is still room for improvement. For example, it has suffered major data breaches, which resulted in the sensitive information of millions of citizens being leaked to unscrupulous elements. Therefore, in the digital age, improved cybersecurity is essential for Nadra to protect the personal information of citizens. Those not entitled to CNICs — for instance, foreigners — are still able to secure the key document because of the presence of corrupt officials within the organisation. Hence, better internal oversight is needed; Nadra says it has introduced AI tools and iris scanning to identify ineligible individuals who have secured ID cards. Overcrowding and long queues at Nadra centres are another matter of concern for the public. Partly because of the large number of applicants, and partly due to bureaucratic lethargy and system breakdowns, applicants often have to queue up for hours to get their documents made. These processes need to be made faster and more efficient without compromising essential security checks, although the promotion of the Nadra app can perhaps help reduce the long lines at registration centres. Nadra needs to keep adapting to keep pace with the digital age, while also ensuring that citizens have a hassle-free experience when getting their documents made.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2026