National Registration and Biometric Policy Implementation Committee Holds First Meeting
The registration and biometric system will be modernized in light of the new government policy.
Islamabad ( Web News) –
The first meeting of the National Implementation Committee, formed under the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), was held on Wednesday at NADRA Headquarters. According to state media, this meeting marks a significant step toward implementing this framework, aimed at improving Pakistan’s registration and biometric system.
The federal government issued the notification for the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework on January 1, 2025. This revolutionary initiative aims to address the shortcomings in the current registration and biometric system. The policy will also contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which mandates that all countries provide legal identity to every individual.
The framework identifies various challenges in the current registration system, including a lack of coordination between different systems, inconsistencies in the regulatory framework, limited access, and the absence of national-level registration or biometric policies. These issues result in a low registration rate, data inconsistencies, risks of identity theft and fraudulent entries, and difficulties in accessing registration services.
The new policy framework aims to ensure an integrated, secure, and efficient registration system. One of its key aspects is the integration of life event data providers and provincial civil registration and management systems with NADRA’s database. To prevent identity theft, a biometric verification system is being introduced at Union Councils.
Under the policy framework, a Digital ID will also be introduced, facilitating collaboration between government agencies and the private sector in registration-related activities. The biometric policy will establish uniform standards for data collection, security, and usage for various government and private institutions across Pakistan.
To oversee the implementation of the policy framework, a National Steering Committee, headed by the Minister of Interior, is providing strategic guidance. The National Implementation Committee, led by the NADRA Chairman, is responsible for executing this guidance.
During the first meeting of the National Implementation Committee, the NADRA Chairman emphasized the significance of this revolutionary initiative for strengthening Pakistan’s identity system. He stated that the framework would support governance initiatives, provide citizens with secure and convenient identity verification methods, and contribute to national security.
The meeting was attended by leaders and senior officials from various ministries and organizations, including:
- Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination
- Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunications
- Ministry of Science & Technology
- Ministry of Law & Justice
- Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)
- Immigration & Passports Department
- Pakistan Bureau of Statistics
- Election Commission of Pakistan
- Local government departments from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir
- Provincial IT Boards from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan and the Provincial IT Boards of Balochistan, Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan also participated online.
NADRA has requested citizens to submit their feedback on this framework. The draft of the framework is available on NADRA’s website: www.nadra.gov.pk/downloads.
The Implementation Committee is actively working to finalize the National Registration and Biometric Policies and submit them to the federal government by May 30, 2025.