ISLAMABAD, March 27: The National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) will start issuing machine-readable passports (MRPs) with the column of religion from March 28 (Monday), an official source told Dawn on Sunday. The source said a new software had been developed for the inclusion of an additional column of religion and now the total number of columns on the first page of the passports would increase from seven to eight.

As the authority could not cancel the already issued MRPs, therefore, it had been decided that such passports would be stamped with the religion of the holder, the source said.

The source said the addition of eighth column for religion would not affect the international standard of the new passports. “May be the information about religion of passengers is not required internationally, therefore, it may not be detected or read by the machines installed at international airports in other countries,” the source added. According to the international standard, seven columns on the first page of the passport can be read by the machines installed at all international airports.

“All MRPs which have already been issued by Nadra would have a stamp of religion,” the source said. However, the stamp could not be put on the first page of already issued passports because there was no place on the first page for the stamp of religion, the source said.