ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: Pakistan has emerged as one of the few countries in the world where 96 per cent of the adult population has been registered through the most secure biometric technology, introduced by National Database Registration Authority (Nadra), its spokesman said here on Friday.

He said the registration level in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been observed at 99.9 per cent, followed by Punjab 99 per cent, Gilgit-Baltistan 89 per cent, Sindh and Fata 88 per cent and Balochistan 76 per cent against the projected population.

“Our focus is now Sindh and Balochistan and we are moving ahead in Fata despite severe law and order situation,” the spokesperson said, adding that the task would be achieved within this calendar year.

It is making all-out efforts to get the adult population in Pakistan especially women registered in a minimum possible time to facilitate them in getting voting rights, education, health, employment and other facilities.

Out of the total 92 million CNIC holders, 40 million are female and 52 million male. So far Nadra has registered over 86 per cent of women which was quite significant in the enhancement of female voters’ list. Four years ago less than 50 per cent of women folk were registered.

To facilitate women in acquiring CNICs, Nadra has established 11 women-only centres with female only staff across the country especially in areas with more traditional mindset.

Nadra is also reaching out to NGOs to help facilitate women in obtaining CNICs and achieve 100 per cent registration of womenfolk across the country.

The total number of women included in the national database is 39.77 million. Out of these, 5.29 million are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 594,514 in Fata, 22 million in Punjab, 8.6 million in Sindh, 1.45 million in Balochistan, 356,151 in Islamabad Capital Territory, 270,132 in Giglit-Baltistan and 1.12 million in Azad Kashmir.

In addition to extensive operational endeavours, Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik has also written letter to all political parties where he emphasised that their outreach and presence across the country provided an opportunity to the authority to access pockets of population that remained unregistered.

Nadra agreed to extend its data acquisition units (DAUs) to the doorsteps of citizens and is ready to perform registration operations through numerous mobile units.

The chairman, in his letter, urged political parties to identify people, especially women, who are still unregistered.