NADRA Boosts Digital ID Services with Pak ID App

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has made significant strides in its digital transformation efforts, fully digitizing the process for applying for identity cards and other official documents through its Pak ID mobile application.

NADRA officials reported that the app has become one of Pakistan’s most popular public services, amassing over 10 million downloads and processing more than 1.2 million applications in the past three months alone. On average, the app handles over 10,000 cases daily, enabling citizens to perform biometric verification, upload documents, and track application statuses directly via their smartphones. This has driven a 45% surge in digital applications.

Beyond the app, NADRA is rolling out new digital facilities to enhance accessibility. Last month, the authority announced plans to expand registration counters in Karachi from 359 to 550 by the end of the current fiscal year. These counters, located at mega and National Registration Centres, aim to improve service delivery.

A key initiative is the introduction of an online “Proof of Life” feature in the Pak ID app, designed primarily for pensioners struggling with fingerprint verification due to age or health issues. NADRA’s Director of Media, Syed Shabahat Ali, told The Express Tribune that close family members, such as a son or daughter, can assist elderly users with digital verification.

Ali also urged citizens to promptly register vital life events—births, marriages, marital status changes, and deaths—with their union councils, emphasizing that these records are critical for maintaining accurate digital databases.

To bolster its e-governance framework, NADRA has initiated local manufacturing of ATM-style self-service kiosks for identity card renewals and other registration services. These kiosks will first be deployed at Karachi mega centres, with plans for expansion to airports, railway stations, shopping malls, and other high-traffic public spaces.