NADRA to Devise New National Registration Policy Under Naqvi’s Orders
— May 24, 2024
ISLAMABAD (AIA) The Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed the formulation of a new National Registration Policy following disagreements between the Ministry of Interior and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) over empowering union councils (UCs) to issue and renew national identity cards countrywide.
Presiding over a meeting on NADRA-related issues, the minister said that the new registration policy should be devised after developing consensus among all provinces. Last week, the Authority contradicted an order of the minister that the provision of identity card issuance and renewal facilities should be given at the UC level across Pakistan. A NADRA spokesperson stated that there were no plans to introduce such facilities at UC offices shortly after Naqvi’s direction.
The interior minister in the meeting was quoted as saying that a comprehensive policy should be devised as “authenticity of identity card and citizenship is of utmost importance.”
“The policy will make registration of citizens transparent and foolproof,” he added. The new policy will also prevent illegal registration of citizenship, as the government is facing the problem of issuing identity cards and passports to foreigners due to some flaws in the previous policy, the minister said.
The meeting also reviewed plans to increase the number of NADRA centers in six major cities: Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. It was decided that Multan would be included in this expansion. The minister urged for the plan to be finalized and implemented within the next few days to minimize rush and inconvenience for citizens.
Minister Naqvi was informed that recent measures have reduced the waiting time for NADRA from 120 minutes to 75 minutes. He directed further reductions in waiting times. Currently, NADRA registration covers 85 percent of the total population, the meeting was briefed.
Secretary Interior Khurram Agha, Chairman NADRA Lieutenant General Mohammad Munir Afsar, and senior officers participated in the meeting.