Foreigners getting Pakistani citizenship: Naqvi directs NADRA to cooperate with LEAs

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to cooperate with Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in the deportation of illegal foreigners and to immediately identify and remove individuals who have unlawfully obtained Pakistani citizenship.

Naqvi issued these directives while presiding over a meeting at the NADRA headquarters. During the meeting, the minister emphasized introducing more modern services to serve the public better.

He also instructed that NADRA’s state-of-the-art offices in major cities in the country should be established. The minister asked NADRA to construct the authority office on purchased premises rather than rented buildings. The minister also sought a master plan from the authority in this regard.

The minister assured full coordination with relevant agencies at the ministerial level. During the meeting, NADRA Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir briefed the minister on the authority’s performance, ongoing projects, and future plans.

NADRA Chairman said that the authority has undertaken multiple initiatives to enhance citizen services. These include the effective implementation of facial recognition for biometric verification, requiring cooperation from other related agencies.

He further said that millions of CNICs of deceased individuals have been cancelled and 30 days have been set for resolving identity card-related issues. In collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), mobile SIMs issued in the names of deceased persons are being blocked, he said.

Director General (DG) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dr Usman Anwar, and other senior NADRA officials were also present at the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026