Pakistan

CNICs re-verification to start from July 1

Interior minister approves six-month multi-pronged strategy

Our Correspondent June 24, 2016

Interior minister approves six-month multi-pronged strategy. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday approved a plan for launching the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) re-verification drive on July 1.

The interior minister, while chairing a meeting to discuss the multi-pronged strategy and attended by the interior secretary, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) national coordinator, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman and other senior officials, was informed that Nadra has established a helpline that can handle 10,000 calls per day, and a SMS gateway to issue 150,000 SMS per day.

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The minister was informed that training for the needed human resource has already been completed to ensure the successful completion of the re-verification drive which in the words of the minister is an ‘important milestone pertaining to national security’. He has given Nadra six months deadline to complete the process.

The minister directed the authorities concerned to start the drive from July 1. The multi-pronged strategy comprises data analysis schemes for verification including across-the-board fraud detection and mathematical modelling, utilisation of PTA’s data to identify aliens, the amnesty scheme, setting up of a helpline and the family tree intrusion detection through SMS.

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He said the input by joint verification committees will also continue side by side with this drive to identify aliens who have illegally acquired CNICs.

The minister said Nadra must give a timeline to settle all such cases where CNICs have been blocked so that people don’t spend their lifetime clearing their names from the agencies concerned.

He directed Nadra to utilise all available resources to achieve the objective of removing aliens from Nadra’s database within six months. The interior minister also approved Nadra’s media strategy to make people aware of the salient features of the scheme.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2016.