ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday laid the foundation stone of a 10-storey National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Mega Centre, with construction expected to be completed by June 2026.
Later, while chairing a high-level meeting at NADRA headquarters, the minister approved a nationwide crackdown on SIM cards issued against expired Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs).
According to an official statement issued here, the decision was made to strengthen digital identity verification and curb misuse of identification documents.
In the first phase, SIM cards linked to CNICs issued in 2017 or earlier will be blocked.
In subsequent phases, the policy will be extended to deactivated CNICs issued after 2017, ensuring that only valid and active identity cards are used for mobile phone registrations.
During the briefing, NADRA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar informed the meeting that, in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), SIM cards registered under the names of deceased individuals or holders of expired CNICs are already being deactivated.
He raised concerns over the widespread storage of citizens’ biometric data by various government departments and private service providers, warning that such practices pose significant risks of data theft and misuse.
To address this issue, the chairman recommended the nationwide adoption of facial recognition technology — particularly beneficial for citizens facing difficulties with fingerprint verification.
The minister endorsed the proposal and announced that the Ministry of Interior would issue directives to all relevant institutions to stop storing biometric data separately. He further confirmed that facial recognition technology will be implemented nationwide by December 31, 2025, under the ministry’s direct supervision.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.