LAHORE: President LCCI Kashif Anwar, during the visit of Director General NADRA, Abrar Ahmad Khan, said that they have declared this year as a facilitation year. He stated, “It is our duty to go for documentation, and it is also our responsibility to play our role in enhancing the tax base.”
LCCI Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Ch and EC members were also present on the occasion.
Kashif Anwar further explained that acquiring membership of the LCCI carries two compulsory obligations; being a taxpayer and filing tax returns for the last two years. He emphasized the importance of educating people about the benefits of becoming taxpayers and filing their returns.
President LCCI praised the cooperation of all government departments, expressing gratitude for their quick and positive responses to the chamber’s initiatives.
DG NADRA, Abrar Ahmad Khan, delivered a comprehensive presentation on NADRA’s services, highlighting its significance as an autonomous body with involvement from various stakeholders, including international entities. He said that NADRA is commonly known for issuing ID cards, but it offers a wide range of services.
DG NADRA said that NADRA Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of NADRA, handles services like e-Sahulat and branchless banking, overseeing all related deposits and systems. The agency has successfully processed an impressive sum of around 66.87 billion cash till date. The DG noted that NADRA plays a key role in vehicle transfer services through its database.
DG NADRA revealed that NADRA operates in 8 regions, 36 divisions, 151 districts, and 501 Tehsils. The agency manages 49 double shift centers and 2509 one-window counters. With a workforce of 21,109 employees, NADRA serves through 779 registration centers, 10 overseas centers, and 12 mega centers.
DG NADRA shared remarkable statistics, stating that NADRA has issued 138 million cards, with 55.90 percent issued to males and 40.80 percent to females. Moreover, 8.5 million cards have been issued to overseas Pakistanis, 525,367 to special needs individuals, and 191,644 Pakistan origin cards. The agency has also provided 4.6 million family registration certificates, 909,873 death certificates, and facilitated around 53 million child registrations.
The DG explained that NADRA issues two types of cards one is the normal cards and the other is card with chip. He expressed the agency’s potential to integrate various services into a single card, including passports, banks, and other essential functions, if the government approves. He said under the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS), NADRA operates 4657 sites, 4639 UCs, and 18 cantonment boards.
DG NADRA highlighted NADRA’s impressive facial image database, which comprises 130 million facial images and can process 40 million images per second. He also listed several other services offered by NADRA, such as Watan Card, Kissan Card, Ahsas Program, BISP, Biometric Verification System, online visa system, Sehat Sahuulat, and more. He said that NADRA now issues succession certificates, streamlining a previously difficult process.
During the visit, DG NADRA honored President LCCI’s request and increased the number of booths at the NADRA counter at LCCI, further enhancing service accessibility for the public.
LCCI SVP Zafar Mahmood Ch said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with NADRA, is committed to promoting facilitation, tax compliance, and efficient public services, contributing to the region’s economic growth and development.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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