In a landmark move to achieve 100% national registration, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has announced a major policy relaxation. Effective immediately, first-time applicants can now obtain their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) without the mandatory submission of a Local Government-issued computerized birth certificate. This special facilitation is set to remain in place until December 31, 2026.
Closing the 1.7% Registration Gap
The decision follows an exhaustive 10-year demographic analysis conducted by NADRA in partnership with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW).
The review revealed that while 98.3% of Pakistan’s adult population is successfully registered, approximately 1.7% remains undocumented. Officials identified that the lack of computerized birth certificates often due to weak civil registration infrastructure in rural districts was the primary "bottleneck" preventing women and marginalized groups from entering the national database.
New Verification Framework
To maintain the security and integrity of the National Identity System, NADRA has replaced the birth certificate requirement with a robust Biometric Family-Link system. The requirements are categorized as follows:
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For Married Women (18+): Applicants must provide a manual Nikah Nama (marriage contract) and the CNIC/NICOP of either a parent or their husband. Biometric verification from both a parent and the husband is required to confirm identity.
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For Unmarried Women (18+): The process requires the CNIC of either parent along with the mandatory biometric verification of at least one parent at the NADRA center.
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For Male Applicants (Above 24): To prevent identity fraud in older first-time applicants, men must have at least one registered sibling and one registered parent. Biometric verification of the parent is mandatory to establish the family tree.
Financial Incentive: Free Identity Cards
As part of the government’s "Inclusion for All" initiative, the Federal Interior Ministry has directed that non-smart CNICs applied for under the "Normal" category through this scheme will be issued free of cost. This removes the financial barrier for low-income families seeking their first legal identity document.
A Permanent Record
While the process is simplified, NADRA has issued a critical advisory for all applicants. Once the parentage, place of birth, and date of birth are recorded under this facilitation scheme, the data will be considered permanent and non-changeable. This measure ensures that the relaxation is not misused to alter records later in life.
Strategic Outlook
"This is not just about a card; it’s about the right to vote, the right to inheritance, and access to social safety nets like BISP," stated a NADRA official. By removing the birth certificate hurdle for the next 22 months, the authority aims to ensure that no Pakistani citizen is left without a voice in the national system due to bureaucratic barriers.
