ISLAMABAD: The management of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Thursday revealed that 372 employees of the organisation were found involved in preparations of Pakistani CNIC’s for Afghan Nationals.

This was disclosed by Nadra Chairman Usman Mubeen in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior which met under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood.

The meeting was also attended by committee members and officials of Nadra, Ministry of Interior and Immigration and Passport.

“Out of 372 employees, 71 belong to Regional Head Office (RHO) Peshawar, 45 from RHO Karachi, 11 from RHO Lahore, 114 from Quetta, 110 from RHO Sargodha and 21 from RHO Sukkhar,” the Nadra chairman said.

According to the list available with Dawn.com, officials of grade 17 and below were involved in issuance of CNIC’s to Afghan nationals.

“Although, the Nadra management terminated dozens of employees from their services, several employees are still working in the organisation after getting a simple warning from the high-up,” it is mentioned in the list.

Members of the committee showed their concerns regarding the involvement of Nadra employees in issuance of CNIC’s to Afghan nationals.

“It is unfortunate that the employees were giving nationality to the foreigners while the management had failed to take action in this regard,” MQM Senator Col (Retd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said.

ANP Senator Shahi Syed said that the Nadra management should convert contract employment into permanent jobs of the employees which will be effective to stop issuance of CNIC’s to Afghan nationals.

“Earlier, the authorities were very lenient in taking of disciplinary action against the culprits involved in issuance of illegal CNIC’s, but from now on we have decided to take strict disciplinary action against those involved in such crimes against the state,” the Nadra chairman said.

Director General Immigration and Passport, Muhammad Safdar told members of the committee that the residents of 73 districts are suffering due to absence of passport offices in their districts.

“The ministry of interior has forwarded a proposal to the planning commission to set up passport offices while the ministry will try to establish passport offices in 73 districts within the next one and half years,” the DG added.