National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) claimed on Wednesday that it has crossed a million mark of issuing 'Pakistan Cards' and disbursed Rs 8.5 billion to the rain-affected families in Sindh. The Deputy Chairman Nadra, Tariq Malik said, a total number of 1,020,979 Pakistan Cards had already been issued in the province through which the affected family got Rs 20,000 cash assistance in two equal instalments.
He said the Authority had already launched 89 distribution sites in 13 affected districts, which were operational and facilitating the rain-affected families. Whereas, other 15 centres were now addressing the complaints from genuine beneficiaries, he added. He said the total number of beneficiaries identified in 15 districts of the province were 1,427,252.
Tariq Malik said throughout the distribution process, Nadra ensured strong checks in the software so that only deserving families belonging to provincially notified calamity hit areas could obtain Pakistan Cards. A mobile SMS service had also been launched in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and all other operating telecom companies, to determine a person's existence in the beneficiary list for Pakistan Card project, and it could also help to check the of status on his/her request.
The eligibility of the applicant for Pakistan Card could be verified by simply sending his/her Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number to the designated short code ie 9777. In response, Nadra central server would send a text message confirming CNIC existence in the beneficiary list.