Arms licence revalidation application starts from Monday: NADRA

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will start receiving applications from Monday for computerization and revalidation of arms licences issued by the Ministry of Interior.

Arrangements have been completed in this regard as 158 district level registration centres across the country will initiate the process which is aimed at ensuring transparency and authenticity of arms licences.

An official at the Authority told APP on Sunday that the formal approval of forms for the purpose had been accorded through which proper data would be available with the Ministry of Interior.

He said the government had extended deadline from Aug 31 to Sept 30 because the exercise included the renewal of arms licenses, specifically issued by the Ministry of Interior across the country. However this project did not cater for the computerization of manual licences issued by the provincial governments.

As per information, the provinces are also planning to launch the process for computerizing the arm licenses to curb the incidents of lawlessness, eliminate fake licenses and illegal weapons from the country.

The official said the NADRA has state of the art infrastructure of centres with trained and qualified manpower having the capability and capacity to develop and manage Arms Licence Management System.

He said the Authority would process arms licences on behalf of the Ministry of Interior, however, the approval of each arms licence application was the sole discretion of the Ministry. The Authority would only process those applications which have the approval of Ministry.

The official said original Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and original licences (along with photocopies) were pre-requisite for revalidation along with application form available at NADRA centres and the ministry's website.

NADRA would verify the CNICs from its database to check the genuineness of an applicant while the applicant's credentials would also be checked by different law enforcement agencies. Card Renewal fee of Rs. 1100 for Prohibited Bore License and Rs. 600 for Non-Prohibited Bore license will be charged along with any payable in respect of government license renewal fee due.

The original booklet will be retained by NADRA. All original booklets will be forwarded by NADRA to the Ministry of Interior for post verification.

He said that NADRA has designated 158 centres across the country where a separate counter in each designated centre has been established to receive the applications regarding the renewal of arms licenses.

He shared the figures that 13 NADRA Registration Centres (NRC) in Regional Head Quarter Multan, 30 NRCs in Provincial Headquarter Quetta, 14 NRCs in PHQ Lahore, 10 NRCs in Regional Head Quarter Sargodha, 32 NRCs in PHQ Peshawar, 24 NRC in Islamabad, 11 NRCs in Sindh Regional Head Quarter Hyderabad, 10 NRCs in Sindh Regional Head Quarter Sukkur, 13 NRCs in Sindh Regional Head Quarter Karachi and one Center at G-10 Islamabad for Arms License Project site will facilitate the applicants.

The above arrangements will facilitate all the Arms License holders.

He said whole exercise of Revalidation and issuance of Arm License would help government to check illegal weapons in the country while record of legal arms will be updated on district-wise which will be helpful for law enforcement agencies.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011