People will need to contact NADRA more frequently for services after crossing age 18
NADRA centres in Karachi tend to have long queues of men, women and senior citizens numbering more than 100 to 150 people at every branch. Some centres have reportedly been closed by the competent authority of NADRA while reportedly, two centres, one Near Saleem Centre, North Karachi, and another one in Sector 4 Surjani are functioning to cater to hugely populated areas of North Karachi, New Karachi, and Surjani Town, which does not fulfill the requirement of the areas. Hence, people come to these centres before the door opens, at about 7:00am. Other centres don’t entertain and advices to approach the NADRA office concerned under territorial jurisdiction of the district. There is no reason to justify reaching the relevant office when all records have been centralized and digitised.
There is a new centre at the 11-C Sector, North Karachi in Aiwan-e-Tejarat-o-Sanat Hospital where a huge space is available to accommodate the areas of 11C-1,2,3, 7D-1,2,3 and 4, Sector 8,9 and 10, 7C and 7B sectors. It is also suggested that a counter may be established in each centre to renew CNICs, FRCs, and birth certification. It would be more appropriate that a renewed card may be furnished at the door of the CNIC holder after proper verification through NADRA staff after prior intimation on the phone with information of arrival date and time. To facilitate citizens, NADRA has announced two centres to work in two shifts in Karachi. It is the state’s responsibility to provide easy access to every citizen for obtaining CNICs.
It is proposed that two shift centres may be increased and a few hours could be fixed for FRC, and CNIC renewal.
Steps should be taken to provide relief to people who will no longer have to from long queues outside NADRA’s office. It is also significant that the new census has begun and people will need to contact NADRA more frequently for services after crossing age 18.
Nisar Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2017.
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