PNN: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Sunday announced a conditional facility allowing citizens without birth certificates to obtain national identity cards, in what authority described as a major step to address documentation gaps.
The facility was developed on the directive of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. NADRA’s Authority Board has approved the measure, which has been introduced under the NADRA Ordinance and national identity card rules and regulations.
According to the spokesperson, the facility for first-time registration will remain effective until Dec. 31, 2026. Applicants’ identities will be verified through alternative methods.
Under the new policy, married women aged 18 or above must present a marriage certificate. Their father or mother and husband must hold valid identity cards, and biometric verification of the relevant family members will be mandatory.
The statement further added that conditions relating to a husband will not apply to unmarried women. For men aged 24 or above, the identity card of a parent and at least one sibling will be required, along with biometric verification of one parent.
“If both parents and the husband are deceased but their records exist in NADRA’s database, biometric requirements may be waived,” it said.
The authority said that first-time applicants will be issued a non-smart national identity card free of charge. Citizens have been urged to ensure the accuracy of their information at the time of registration, as changes to parentage, date of birth and place of birth will not be permitted.
Last year, NADRA notified a comprehensive set of new regulations after they were approved by the NADRA Authority Board in accordance with the relevant rules and the NADRA Ordinance.
The reforms included updated procedures for the verification and cancellation of identity documents, amendments to the National Identity Card (NIC) framework, a revised regulatory structure for the Pakistan Origin Card (POC), and the introduction of a modern procurement regime for the organisation.
The new verification regulations introduced a structured process for examining doubtful identity records.