The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced time-bound facilitation for first-time CNIC applicants.
In a statement, the authority said that while Pakistan has achieved approximately 98.3 percent adult registration in the national identity system, a residual gap of nearly 1.7 percent remains. He said the gap was more pronounced among women and, for both genders, in certain districts where civil documentation coverage is comparatively weak.
In most of these cases, the main impediment has been the absence of a computerized birth certificate issued by the local government, the main document for first-time registration.
“During the preparation of its Annual Report 2025, NADRA carried out a detailed analysis of the registration data of the last ten years in coordination with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Election Commission of Pakistan, National Commission on the Status of Women, National Commission for Child Welfare and Development and other stakeholders,” the statement read.
The exercise examined demographic trends, district-level variations and gender differences to identify the causes of the residual gap and formulate corrective measures.
Following the presentation of the findings, the Federal Minister of Home Affairs and Narcotics Control ordered the introduction of a structured and legally based facilitation mechanism, which was subsequently approved by the NADRA Authority Board, the statement said.
“Accordingly, NADRA has introduced a time-bound facilitation for first-time registration, valid until December 31, 2026. Under this framework, Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) can be issued, subject to strict verification conditions, when a computerized birth certificate issued by the local government is not available.”
Issuance of CNIC under this framework will be allowed only when identity is established through existing NADRA records and mandatory biometric verification of already registered immediate family members.
For a married woman aged 18 years or above, a valid local government Nikah Nama, a valid CNIC or NICOP of either parent, a valid CNIC or NICOP of the husband and biometric verification of one of the parents and the husband will be mandatory.
For an unmarried woman aged 18 or over, the condition related to her husband will not apply. However, a valid CNIC or NICOP of either parent and biometric verification of one of the parents will be mandatory.
For a male applicant above 24 years of age, issuance will be allowed only when either parent has a valid CNIC or NICOP and at least one sibling also has a valid CNIC or NICOP, along with mandatory biometric verification of one of the parents.
