National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has urged all citizens to have their expired Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) renewed immediately to avoid any inconvenience in legal, financial and other matters where a valid ID card is compulsory, a statement from Nadra said on Tuesday.
It said that more than nine million CNICs have expired till date. Their renewal has become a must to avoid any inconvenience. Expired CNICs are automatically blocked by the system and cannot be used for any transactions relating to purchase, sale, transfer of property, opening or operation of bank accounts, foreign travel, many other activities that require identification of an individual, require possession of a valid CNIC. Moreover, machine-readable passports could not be obtained or processed due to the expired CNICs.
Deputy Chairman Nadra, Tariq Malik said that after the expiry of CNICs, cardholders would not be able to avail any facility that requires irrevocable proof of his/her identification. Nadra (National Identity Card) Rules, 2002, Rule 12 Sub Rule (1) emphasises that "A citizen shall, at any time but not later than one month after date of expiry or early termination of validity period of his existing card, apply for registration afresh under the regulations and a new card may be issued by the authority, subject to the fulfilment of applicable criteria and formalities and payment of prescribed fee, if any."
He informed that Nadra has instructed all its centres and staff across the country to facilitate applicants for the renewal on priority. The Authority shall facilitate applications even 90 days before the expiry date on the card to keep convenience of public at the forefront, he added. He further informed that no documentary proof, except original CNIC with expiry date, is required from applicants who are applying for renewal of CNIC and no attestation is required for the renewal. An applicant is issued CNIC with his/her latest information and extended expiry date. If an applicant gets his/her CNIC renewed at an age of 56, his/her CNIC is declared valid for lifetime, he added.
Malik said that the status of an individual undergoes changed at various stages, for example, from childhood to adult, single to married, student to working individual, etc, and expiry date, therefore, facilitates in gathering fresh and updated information of citizens, which further aids government in effective planning. Demographic data of citizens is vital for analysis, planning for overall betterment of country, which needs to be updated so that various development projects can be efficiently designed and executed.-PR
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