Renewal of arms licences: Nadra expecting over 0.15 million applications

The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) is expecting to receive over 150,000 applications for arms licences renewal and is making necessary changes in its arms licences software to replace the old manual arms licences with a smartcard, a secure licence, said Tariq Malik, Nadra Deputy Chairman here on Wednesday.
Old arms licences will be replaced with smartcard, which will have every security feature and any one would be easily traceable when deemed necessary, Tariq told Business Recorder exclusively.
He said that people coming for renewal of their arms licences have been requested to bring original computerised national identity cards (CNIC) and original arms licence. After checking documents, Nadra will generate an e-form of the applicant for renewal. It is still under discussion whether to take the bio-metrics of the applicants coming for renewal of arms licences or not, he said, adding that the SPOs would be finalised in a meeting scheduled to be on Thursday.
He said that after receiving the instructions from Interior Minister, and extension in renewal of the old arms licences, Nadra has decided to formulate a strategy to ensure smooth sailing. "We will designate one office in every district to receive the applications for renewal of manual arms licences where a special desk will entertain the applicants", Tariq said, adding that the Authority would make the process convenient for the people, and would ensure security.
Nadra will also facilitate the people coming for revalidation of arms licences at Nadra centres. Interior Minister Rehman Malik had earlier announced August 31 as deadline for renewal of arms licences, which has been extended to September 30, 2011.