ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has notified a new set of reforms to tighten identity verification procedures, the regulator said on Monday, amid an ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal foreigners and document fraud.
The development comes as Islamabad continues deportations of foreigners living illegally in Pakistan as part of a crackdown launched in 2023. Most of these foreigners are Afghans who fled to Pakistan over the past four decades to escape war, political unrest and economic hardship.
The new verification regulations introduce a structured process to examine doubtful identity records and establish verification boards responsible for inquiries, hearings and final decisions, according to NADRA.
These measures, approved by the NADRA Authority Board, are designed to strengthen security and accuracy of the national identity system and have been published in the Gazette of Pakistan.
“The reforms include updated procedures for verification and cancelation of identity documents, amendments to the National Identity Card (NIC) framework, a revised regulatory structure for the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) and a modern procurement regime for the organization,” the regulator said on Monday.
