The Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar, assured the National Assembly on Thursday that rigorous data verification protocols are in place to prevent the issuance of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and passports to non-Pakistani nationals.
His statement came in response to concerns raised by MNAs Sehar Kamran and Noor Alam Khan regarding the alleged distribution of Pakistani identification documents to Afghan nationals. Tarar highlighted that passport offices across the country have been equipped with new scanners and advanced machinery to enhance the verification process.
Afghan applicants for passports undergo a stringent three-tier scrutiny process, which includes attestation from a gazetted officer, re-verification of the attestation source, and confirmation of data through the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) database managed by NADRA.
He added that NADRA’s database is carefully checked to ensure that no discrepancies occur. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also investigating cases involving the issuance of CNICs to non-Pakistanis.
Tarar urged anyone with evidence of illegal activities or rackets involved in issuing fake documents to report it to the authorities. He emphasized the increased verification steps, noting that all applicants must provide valid proof of residence. NADRA’s sophisticated technology is being used by various departments for face verification and other forms of identification.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq acknowledged previous issues and expressed optimism that recent improvements would prevent further lapses.