Complaint of expats: CJP takes notice of hefty POC fee

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has taken suo motu notice of a complaint that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is charging  expatriates “an exorbitant fee” for merely issuing and cancelling their Pakistan Origin Card (POC).

Overseas Pakistanis said in their complaint that the POC fee was unnecessary and causing financial burden on them. They pointed out that they had been paying $100 to NADRA for preparation of the POC. The fee has now been increased to $150.

In case of cancellation, they said, NADRA charges expats a sum of Rs31,500. This increase is discouraging overseas Pakistanis from applying for the POC, the complaint said.

Taking notice of the matter, the CJP called for a report from the NADRA chairman within 10 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2017.