Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority has completed a major verification exercise to improve the accuracy of the national identity system. The process involved matching civil registration data with the national citizen database.
During this review, NADRA cancelled about 4.2 million Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). These cards belonged to individuals who were already recorded as deceased in official civil records.
Officials said the cancellations were made after reconciling the Civil Registration System with the national citizen database. The action was taken under the provisions of the NADRA Ordinance and the National Identity Card Rules.
According to NADRA, millions of CNICs remained active even though the deaths had already been registered with provincial authorities. Families had not reported these deaths to the authority, which caused discrepancies in the national database.
Authorities explained that keeping identity cards active after a person’s death can affect national demographic records. It may also create complications in government data and planning.
Following awareness campaigns by NADRA, families of around three million deceased individuals have approached the authority. They requested the formal cancellation of the identity cards of their relatives.
Officials said the verification process aims to strengthen the integrity of Pakistan’s identity management system. It also helps maintain accurate population statistics across the country.
NADRA has also warned citizens about possible mistakes during record updates. In some cases, identity cards may be cancelled incorrectly due to incorrect reporting or family disputes.
If a CNIC is cancelled by mistake, citizens are advised to contact NADRA offices immediately. They should obtain details from the relevant Union Council and correct the information in civil records.
Once the correction is completed, the updated information can be submitted to NADRA for restoration of the identity card status.
The authority also revealed another issue related to child registration. Around 14 million children have been registered with Union Councils but are not yet included in the national database.
To address this gap, NADRA has started sending reminder SMS messages to parents and guardians. The authority urged families to visit the nearest office and obtain B-Forms, also known as Child Registration Certificates.
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Officials say registering children in the database is important for access to education, health services, and future identity documentation. The latest verification drive shows NADRA’s ongoing effort to improve Pakistan’s national data system and ensure accurate records.
