NADRA Increasing CNIC Fees to Open New Offices in Pakistan
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is considering raising the fees for identity cards as it plans to extend its network of offices to better serve the public. According to a report by Geo News, this potential fee increase is linked to the financial challenges associated with maintaining and expanding these facilities.
NADRA has been actively opening new offices across the country to improve accessibility for obtaining computerized national identity cards (CNICs). However, despite these efforts, many citizens continue to experience lengthy delays when applying for or renewing their CNICs. This situation highlights a significant gap in NADRA’s ability to meet the demand for its services. Also Check which VPN is working in Pakistan?
During a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee, chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz, NADRA Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar revealed that there are currently 61 tehsils in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan that lack NADRA office facilities. This lack of local offices forces residents of these tehsils to travel long distances, often facing considerable inconvenience and expense, to access basic identity services.
Lt. Gen. Afsar explained to the committee that the expansion of services and opening of new offices require substantial funding. Since NADRA operates as a self-funded entity, it has not increased its fees for identity cards since the tenure of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who issued an executive order to provide the first CNICs free of charge. To continue expanding and maintaining service quality, NADRA now finds itself in a position where it may need to revise its fee structure.
The potential increase in CNIC fees has raised concerns among committee members regarding the financial burden it could impose on ordinary citizens, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Some members proposed that the fee for the first ID card should remain waived to alleviate part of this burden.
Security issues were also a significant point of discussion during the meeting. The committee addressed concerns about the integrity of the CNIC issuance process, highlighting reports of fraudulent ID cards being possessed by Afghan nationals. These incidents underline the critical need for stringent security measures to prevent data breaches and unauthorized issuance of identity cards. NADRA officials assured the committee that they are continuously working on enhancing their monitoring systems to detect and prevent any misuse of the CNIC issuance process.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for NADRA to balance its financial sustainability with public service obligations. The authority is tasked with a complex challenge: how to effectively expand its service network without placing undue financial strain on the citizens it aims to serve. Moving forward, NADRA must explore innovative solutions to fund its expansions, perhaps through government support or partnerships, while ensuring that access to essential identity services remains equitable and secure for all Pakistanis.
In light of these discussions, the committee agreed to revisit the issue in subsequent meetings, aiming to develop a more detailed strategy that supports NADRA’s operational needs while considering the economic impact on the public. This ongoing dialogue is crucial to ensuring that NADRA can fulfill its mandate to provide efficient, accessible, and secure identity verification services across Pakistan.
