NADRA: Pakistan to roll out unified Facial Recognition System for National Biometric Database| 2025
NADRA: The Interior Ministry directed all concerned agencies to discontinue the separation of citizens’ biometric information and start using one facial recognition software, and the complete implementation is to be done by December 31, 2025. The directive was issued at the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) headquarters in Islamabad during a top-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Muhammad Munir Afsar discussed key issues concerning data management and protection. The chairman showed concern that several service providers and governments were holding local databases of people’s biometric information, leaving the data vulnerable to misuse and theft.
He pointed out that in cases where fingerprint verification was difficult, it was imperative to utilize NADRA’s verified and secure central database through facial recognition.
It was crucial to put an end to dealing with these flawed verification problems. In a critical legislative move, the Interior Minister directed the blocking of all mobile SIMs issued on outdated identity cards forthwith.
He declared that the process would begin for all SIMs registered against a CNIC issued in 2017 or before the process would trace all blocked CNICs to make sure only effective identity cards were utilized to get mobile connections.
NADRA is also working in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to revoke SIMs issued in the name of dead people or ID card holders whose cards have been cancelled or expired.
Naqvi was also the Chief Guest at the laying of the foundation stone of the 10-storey NADRA Mega Center at I-8 Islamabad, which is to be completed by June 2026.
He authorized the expansion of NADRA services to a total of 44 presently unattended tehsils and union councils in Pakistan, with completion deadlines of June 30, 2025, for all 31 union councils in Islamabad, and authorized the opening of NADRA regional offices in Multan, Sukkur, and Gwadar.
NADRA officials gave a thorough briefing on their reforms, digital transformation, and public service delivery news. It was informed that the National Identity Card (NIC ) Rules 2002 had been updated and new registration certificates would be issued for children and families to provide legal clarity and help in fraud prevention.
NADRA introduced and deployed sophisticated biometric systems with facial recognition and iris scans. There are ongoing efforts with the PTA, FIA, SBP, SECP, and all concerned agencies to avoid identification fraud and biographic or biometric mismatches.
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