Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has announced its updated fee structure for Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) and Child Registration Certificates (B-Form) that will take effect in January 2025, marking another step in the country’s ongoing digital identity modernization efforts.
Under the new structure, standard CNIC applications will cost Rs750, while urgent processing will be available for Rs1,500. An executive category service will be offered at Rs2,500. For B-Forms, the regular processing fee is set at Rs50, with an executive service option available for Rs500. The changes support NADRA’s continuing expansion of its digital identity infrastructure, which has become increasingly central to Pakistani society.
“One’s ID card is important for a driving license, NTN, bank account, passport, or even a mobile connection,” said Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi. “It also connects with healthcare and education, which makes it a very important document in daily life.”
The application process for CNICs requires applicants to provide either a birth certificate or matriculation result card, along with a copy of a family member’s CNIC. B-Form applications must include proof of the child’s birth from the Union Council office and valid identification from at least one parent or legal guardian, which can be either a National Identity Card or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
NADRA has also announced enhanced security features for child documentation, scheduled to begin on January 15, 2025. The improvements include the addition of thumb impressions and photographs to prevent identity misuse, building upon the agency’s recent implementation of biometric identification for children over 10 years old.
The CNIC serves as a fundamental document for accessing various services in Pakistan, including obtaining driving licenses, National Tax Numbers, bank accounts, passports, and mobile phone connections. The integration with essential services has become particularly important as Pakistan’s telecommunications authorities have intensified efforts to combat fraud through stricter identity verification requirements.
The enhanced security measures are part of NADRA’s broader initiatives to strengthen identity verification across multiple sectors, including the potential implementation of two-factor authentication in tax management systems. The developments demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to modernizing its national identity infrastructure while maintaining robust security standards.
Sources: ARY News Aaj English TV Mobile ID World Pakistan Observer
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