ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Monday requested all aspirants, who have been declared successful in Haj balloting by the ministry of religious affairs and have not yet applied for Computerised National Identity Cards, to contact their nearest Nadra Swift Registration Centre (NSRC) immediately.

This will enable the Nadra to issue CNIC to all intending Hujjaj on time, the Nadra’s spokesman said on Monday.

These steps, he said, were being taken in apropos with conditions which have been announced by the ministry of religious affairs that no applicant would be allowed to leave Pakistan without Nadra’s CNIC.

He said scores of intending Hajis have not even applied for the CNIC despite the announcements of Nadra through print and electronic media. The government, he said, had decided that all Pakistanis intending to perform Haj during 2004 will be issued Haj passports on the basis of CNIC.

He said the CNIC was a pre-requisite to perform Haj. According to rules issued by the ministry, all Hujaj have to produce the CNIC at the time of reporting at Haji camps.