Nadra celebrates its 24th foundation day

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Saturday celebrated its 24th foundation day by paying tribute to its visionary founders.

“Their pioneering efforts extended to deploying digital biometrics, seamlessly merging state-of-the-art technology with the vision of propelling Pakistan into the era of smart, computerised identities,” it said.

From trailblazing applications of biometric technology to effectively managing smart card programmes for disaster relief and financial inclusion initiatives targeting the underserved, the Nadra has evolved into a key player across various sectors since its establishment on March 10, 2000.

Its expertise has garnered international acclaim, earning the organisation numerous awards for excellence. The Nadra today is serving the third largest demographic segment of the world.

As part of its foundation day festivities, the Nadra showcased its key accomplishments of the year 2023. A significant milestone was achieved by processing nearly 30 million identity documents with 50 percent female registration. The Nadra’s contributions were pivotal in crucial national endeavours such as the Digital Census 2023. Additionally, the Nadra played a significant role in issuing succession certificates and computerised arms licenses.

In addition, the efforts to enhance fiscal transparency and economic growth saw the Nadra leading initiatives to broadening the tax base through innovative data integration and AI modelling techniques.

Internationally, the Nadra extended its reach through collaborations with Nigeria, Somalia, and Kenya on various identification initiatives, aligning with global best practices. It has unveiled plans to introduce a multiplatform citizen registration regime in 2024.

Throughout 2023, the Nadra maintained its commitment to efficiently serve the citizens of Pakistan, operating through its Nadra Registration Centres (NRCs), mobile registration vans (MRVs), and online platforms. Resultantly, nearly 30 million identity documents were processed during the year with a significant achievement of reaching 50 percent female registration, underscoring Nadra’s commitment to gender inclusivity and empowerment.

The Nadra played a pivotal role in empowering marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, religious minorities, transgender individuals, and orphans. The organisation conducted registration campaigns, sensitisation sessions, and targeted drives, resulting in a reduction of gender gaps in registration and increased inclusion of underserved communities.

Nadra’s involvement extended beyond identity documentation services. As a pivotal technology arm of the government, the organisation contributed significantly to the Digital Census 2023 in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

In the succession registration process, the Nadra processed over 51,752 applications, demonstrating its commitment to facilitating legal processes related to property inheritance. The deployment of unified application and web portal systems across the country resulted in enhancing efficiency and accessibility for citizens.

Furthermore, the Nadra’s responsibilities expanded to include the issuance of computerised arms licenses on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and provincial governments.

In response to the directives from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a committee was established in November 2023, spearheaded by the Nadra chairman, for broadening of tax base through data integration and IT infrastructure transformation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). A comprehensive report was prepared and submitted to the federal government by the committee within a short span of 35 days, focusing on expanding the tax net through data integration and AI modelling. The report outlined plans to add 4 million taxpayers over the next six quarters, along with actionable recommendations to support economic digitisation.

In addition to its achievements, the Nadra enhanced data security measures during the massive registration exercise, cleansing the database of aliens and fake members within families and taking decisive action against identified culprits with the assistance of law enforcement agencies.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Nadra aims to introduce a multiplatform citizen registration regime, implement biometric endorsements for document attestations, and devise a National Registration Policy. This policy will streamline identity document issuance by incorporating stakeholders from various government departments under one umbrella, ensuring a cohesive approach.