The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has discontinued the services related to the identity card in the General Post Offices (GPO) throughout the country, citing low public use and the lack of consciousness, said Express News.
Initially launched three years ago as an initiative of the Government, collaboration between Nadra and Pakistan Post aimed to facilitate citizens with easier access to services such as CNIC renewal, direction updates and marital status changes through dedicated counters dedicated in postal offices.
However, Nadra has ordered the closure of all these counters, ordered to the personnel returning the equipment and deposit the rates collected. The CNIC lists will immediately be delivered to the applicants before the counters are completely dismantled.
A NADRA spokesman confirmed the decision, declaring: “Due to the extremely low number of applicants in the counters of the Post Office, the facilities have closed. The equipment will be transferred to the union councils in the next fiscal year.”
Despite offering key services, such as address updates, renovations and photo/signatures modifications, the initiative failed to gain public traction. The officials attributed limited participation to inappropriate public awareness.
The counters, who were operational in the main cities, including Karachi since February 2022, were part of a 10 -year agreement between Nadra and Pakistan Post. Only three years later, the program has been discontinued, affecting approximately 83 counters in the four provinces and quakemira.
In Karachi alone, the counters established in 10 main post office, including II Chundarigar Road and Saddar Gpo, have closed. These counters had helped relieve pressure on Nadra centers by reducing tails.
The sources pointed out that, although the service helped reduce the congestion in the Nadra offices, many citizens did not know the availability of these facilities in the post office. “Most people did not know that such services existed,” said an official.
According to the reports, the authorities of Nadra and Gpo had planned public awareness campaigns through social networks and other channels, but these efforts never materialized on a scale.
The NADRA spokesman confirmed that the now closed counters team will be reassigned to the local union councils to improve the provision of decentralized services.
