The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has rolled out a nationwide network of e-franchise centers to simplify the renewal and replacement of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).
With the new system, citizens no longer need to visit NADRA registration centers. Instead, they can access CNIC services through authorized e-franchise outlets located in their neighborhoods.
NADRA spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali said the initiative was launched as a pilot project with 18 e-franchise centers. Following its success, NADRA has expanded the network to more than 2,000 centers across Pakistan.
He said the service does not require citizens to own a smartphone or have internet access. Applicants can visit a nearby e-franchise center, provide their CNIC number, and complete biometric verification through photographs and fingerprints retrieved from NADRA’s database.
According to the spokesperson, e-franchise centers currently offer services limited to CNIC renewal and reissuance of lost identity cards. He clarified that applicants are not required to file a police report (FIR) for these services.
Addressing data security concerns, Syed Shabahat Ali said citizens can monitor access to their personal information through NADRA’s Pak-Identity app, which allows users to check when and how their data — including CNIC details, fingerprints, or QR codes — has been accessed.