The Ministry of Interior has issued directives to all relevant departments to stop maintaining separate biometric databases and begin implementing a centralized facial recognition system. The nationwide rollout is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025.
This decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at NADRA headquarters in Islamabad. The session, attended by NADRA Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar, focused on pressing security and data management issues. The Chairman expressed concern that various government departments and service providers were storing citizens’ biometric data locally, increasing the risk of data breaches. He stressed the need to rely on NADRA’s secure, verified central database using facial recognition, particularly to help those struggling with fingerprint verification.
As part of new policy measures, the Interior Minister also ordered the immediate deactivation of all mobile SIMs registered against expired CNICs. The process will begin with SIMs issued against CNICs from 2017 or earlier, and will later expand to all inactive identity cards to ensure that only valid CNICs can be used for mobile services.
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NADRA is working with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to disable SIMs registered under deceased individuals or expired ID holders. Additionally, Minister Naqvi inaugurated the construction of a 10-storey NADRA Mega Center in Islamabad’s I-8 sector, scheduled for completion by June 2026. He also approved the expansion of NADRA services to 44 underserved tehsils and union councils, including all 31 in Islamabad by June 30, 2025. New regional NADRA offices will also be established in Multan, Sukkur, and Gwadar.
During the briefing, NADRA officials presented updates on ongoing reforms, digital transformation, and improvements in service delivery. They highlighted recent amendments to the National Identity Card (NIC) Rules 2002 and the issuance of upgraded registration certificates for children and families to combat fraud.
NADRA has also deployed enhanced biometric technology, including facial recognition and iris scanning. It continues to coordinate with agencies such as PTA, FIA, SBP, and SECP to prevent identity fraud and mismatched biometrics. The PAK ID mobile app, with over 7 million downloads, now supports digital ID issuance, pensioners’ “proof of life,” and federal arms license renewals.
