National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has so far registered 1,20,578 aliens across the country, of which 1,12,000, were registered in Karachi. Meanwhile, proposal is being prepared by the authority for establishment of 'suspect database' based on registration of immigrants.
An official source Monday said as per census 1996 and a survey conducted by Special Branch Sindh and National Alien Registration Authority (NARA), there are almost 2.8 million aliens residing in Karachi alone. He furthered that illegal immigrants have not been registered by Nadra but strong mechanism exists within the Authority, which upon information takes appropriate action.The official said it is not the policy of government to issue passports to illegal immigrants.
The issuance is linked with production of Computerised National Identity Card and Computerised Registration Certificate (CRC-in case of applicants below 18-years of age). He said data of CNIC and CRC is retrieved and verified from Nadra's Data Warehouse to avoid issuance of passports to the non-entitled persons.
The passport issuing authority interviews each and every applicant to ascertain his national status and credentials and in case of slightest doubt, the case is referred to security agency for verification of national status of the applicant before deciding issuance of passports.