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High Court of Peshawar sent a directive to NADRA for guidance to the public and departments regarding the issuance of NADRA CNIC numbers.

Followings are the details about NADRA CNIC Numbers.

Apropos to the Opinion “NADRA’s algebra” authored by Zubeida Mustafa in Dawn on Jan 28, 2022, NADRA Spokesperson intends to clarify that the author has misconstrued the role of NADRA which primarily registers the people of Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) reflects the synergy effect in which various identification functions concentrate into a single document and most public services route through the national identity card number. This function of CNIC authenticates that the public services are rendered to the right person. In the same manner, the voter lists are prepared underpinning one person, one identity and one vote.  NADRA has always strived towards inclusive registration with its core tenet as ‘empowerment through legal identity’.

With regards to unvaccinated people, the governance, strategy, and operational control are with Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (MONHSR&C) and National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC). It is the stated policy of NCOC to vaccinate people without CNIC across the country only with a condition that they get themselves registered with NADRA for availing other public services. So far approximately 1.5 million unregistered persons (without CNICs) have been vaccinated across the country. NADRA is only the implementation partner responsible for maintaining a transparent database of vaccinated individuals.

The National Immunization Management System (NIMS) developed by NADRA, is a robust and scalable solution that is integrated with all concerned stakeholders i.e. Ministry of Health, National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), Federal Extended Program on Immunization (EPI), and all Telecommunication operators of the country. The system is National ID card (NIC) centric and carries out real-time validation of NIC for registration, scheduling and vaccine administration along with certificate issuance, validation and dynamic dashboards for informed decision making of the policymakers. The system also has the capacity to carry out online/real time verification of issued certificates using the NIMS database.

At the outset of vaccine supply that was scarce initially, Government of Pakistan desired to initiate vaccination process for the most vulnerable people in advanced age-brackets, CNIC database was used to identify vulnerable people like that of author of the opinion herself via age-brackets as per demographics. Citizens were provided a fool proof and easy to use SMS as well as web based system for registration, identification of eligibility as per vulnerable groups and subsequent scheduling on a particular Vaccine Centre for vaccine administration.

It is pertinent to mention that during the early days of COVID-19, MONHSR&C and NCOC mandated NADRA to design, develop, and host a digital system for vaccine administration. After detailed deliberations with all stakeholders, National Immunization Management System (NIMS) was envisaged to consolidate all immunization activities that are being carried out in the country, on a single intelligent platform. Pakistan is one of the countries that have managed a seamless COVID-19 vaccination administration and so far more than 174 million dozes have been administered using NIMS. Digital system ensures transparency, audit trail and real-time information accessibility.

Moreover with regard to the registration of vital events such as birth, death, marriage and divorce, the registration of such events is exclusively the domain of Union Councils (UC), Cantonment Boards and other local government bodies of respective provinces. As some births in the country are not registered in UCs, some Pakistanis do not conduct any of the activities described above; thus a few do not have CNICs. Despite being outside its mandate, NADRA has always extended its full technical support to Local government in Civil registration systems and currently we are in the process of implementing a wholesome technical solution to integrate Civil registration and vital statistics data from all local governments.

NADRA has specifically focused on the unregistered individuals by creating a dedicated Inclusive Registration Department (IRD) that strategically devises means to enhance registration, especially for women, minorities, transgender and unregistered persons.

In this regard, NADRA specifically targeted 80 districts with a gender gap of more than 10% in registration figures. In 2021, more than 3.2 million women were registered with NADRA. Our evidence-based strategy paid off and in the last few months, and we have successfully reduced the gender gap by 40% in these targeted districts. NADRA opened 18 x Female Only NADRA centres, predominantly in KP to overcome the socio-cultural barriers of women hesitating to deal with male staff. At our centres, priority handling and ‘queue jump’ is given to senior citizens and disabled persons and recently, we have set up dedicated desks for transgender registrations.

Pakistan is the only country in the world where the state brings its ID services to the doorsteps of the citizen through an online platform (id.nadra.gov.pk) that is open to all resident and Overseas Pakistanis, so that they can avail an ID from the convenience of their homes. Furthermore, 262 Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) and 80 Person pack units have been deployed countrywide that reach out to people living in remote areas or senior citizens who may not be able to travel to the nearest NRC.

As of January 2022, 120 million people i.e 96% of adult population (above 18) possess CNICs. As per the population figures of the previous census (2017), NADRA has provided CNIC to 65,908,886 (99% coverage) persons in Punjab, 25,686,818 (96%) persons in Sindh, 17,861,972 (98%) persons in KPK and FATA and 4,933,366 (83%) persons in Baluchistan

NADRA has developed an infrastructure that allows maximum accessibility. There are 700+ NRCs operating country wide and in all 154 districts of Pakistan. In 2021, NADRA opened 66 new tehsil-level NRCs and a total of 517 tehsils have a NADRA registration centre. By June 2022, NADRA Registration Centres will be present in all tehsils of the country.

NADRA has always strived towards strengthening the social contract, inclusive registration practices and maintaining a transparent, yet secure database of the people. Only when the state is able to count on its citizens, it is able to roll out public services and identity is the first and fundamental step towards this. NADRA has proudly partnered with multiple public and private sector entities, to enable an ID centric ecosystem around which a number of digital public goods are rolled out for the betterment and convenience of citizens.

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day (10 December), National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) takes special measures to reach out the transgender persons, a marginalized segment of society, across the country.
In a bid to enhance the registration of transgender persons and create awareness, NADRA has launched countrywide campaign “Trans-Rights are Human Rights”. In this regard the authority is conducting remedial training of field officers/officials on 13th Dec 2021 in order to sensitize the sensitivities and vulnerabilities that create encumbrance in the registration of transgender persons.
NADRA has so far registered 5626 transgender persons who opted for a gender other than male or female. The authority further aims at creating awareness about the significance of legal identity for empowering the transgender community. In this milieu, NADRA has engaged Ministry of Human Rights, Provincial/District Social Welfare Departments to mobilize the transgender persons for CNIC registration in order to help them eliminate long-standing discrimination, exclusion and sporadic violence.
Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik held meeting with Transgender persons hailing from different parts of the country. During meeting he said this year on the occasion of International Human Rights Day we are asserting that Trans-rights are also human rights. Achieving meaningful progress on SDG 16.9 & 10.2 towards sustainable human development, we must promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable segments of society and take measures for creating an inclusive society with effective participation of transgender persons, he added.
He said NADRA has taken this daunting task of bringing the transgender persons in the fold of inclusive society by issuing them the basic identity document i.e CNIC. My message is clear to all genders, “Be yourself, we will adjust. To be perceived as what you say is your basic right.” said Tariq Malik
In this regard, special Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) are being deployed on 10th December, 2021 for registration of transgender in coordination with Ministry of Human Rights and District Social Welfare Deptt /NGOs in the areas where a large number of transgender community is residing. First time CNIC registration is free for all transgenders.
Moreover, MRV is also being deployed at First Transgender Persons School in Multan. The school provides basic education, vocational training which is staffed by transgender teachers.
NADRA is the only organization that has provided equal opportunities to the transgender persons to get the jobs and be a part of the organization. NADRA has already employed transgender persons in NADRA as per their qualification and experience.
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Capitalizing on technical advancements, and as per the request of SBP, NADRA has launched latest Contactless Biometric Verification Services for the Banking and Payments Industry, making Pakistan one of the first countries in the world to implement this Technology on National Level. The service was launched during the visit of Dr. Reza Baqir, Governor State Bank to NADRA Headquarters, Islamabad today. The Banks in Pakistan will make use of the digital app on smart phones capturing and verifying biometrics of the potential account holders from their homes. With the introduction of this digital technology the Banking system will take paradigm shift adding remote biometric capturing technology to digital banking system. The service is initially extended to five (05) Banks nominated by SBP for pilot. Other banks and fully SBP licensed EMIs, after completion of necessary formalities will also be included in the pilot run. Once the pilot is completed, this service shall be extended to all Banks/EMIs. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Reza Baqir, Governor State Bank said, “This new mobile based verification service for banks and Electronic Money Institutions is in line with SBP’s financial inclusion initiative while creating opportunity for rapid on-boarding using remote identification and e-KYC features” He added “early adoption of this new technology has endless potential to reach towards underserviced population while it extends a great benefit to financial sector as it will reduce the operational costs, aiding in releasing pressure on Banks who have been negatively impacted during this Pandemic”. On the occasion, Mr. Tariq Malik Chairman NADRA said, “We are addressing the need of the hour during this on-going pandemic. This new technology makes contactless fingerprint acquisition and matching possible using a smart mobile phone, providing an alternative to conventional methods of conducting digital financial transactions that may require specialized equipment or visits to Bank Branches/Franchises. NADRA is proud to maintain its reputation for introducing niche technological trends in country. It is another step towards our aim of creating a robust National ID Eco System in Pakistan”

People who had been vaccinated with single-dose vaccines have already received vaccine certificates from the authority, spokesman stated. To this effect NADRA has so for issued 1, 451 certificates for single-dose of CanSino Bio vaccine, spokesman informed.

Whereas, 47,288 certificates have been issued for double-dose across the country. The spokesman also requested the general public not to pay heed to such disinformation and hoaxes. They can conveniently receive vaccine certificates for single-dose as well as double-dose from the authority.