Expats can apply online to get multiple cards issue resolved

ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistanis can now apply online for getting DUP clearance after the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) revised its relevant policy to facilitate the expatriate community.

A citizen obtaining two or more identity cards or certificates with different identity numbers is marked DUP in the NADRA database.

NADRA provided the online application facility in view of the hurdles faced by overseas Pakistani in getting their multiple identity cards issues resolved.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Hafiz Ahsaan Khokhar, senior adviser law and grievance commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis, said that the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman)’s Secretariat had issued letters to all Pakistani missions abroad, requesting them to display guidelines and information for all those facing the issue.

He said over the past many years, the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat had received a huge number of complaints from the overseas Pakistanis holding multiple identity cards with different particulars.

“Due to this, millions of overseas Pakistanis, especially living in USA and European countries, were facing numerous issues for the issuance of passports, visas or nationalities,” he said.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat would now monitor the entire process and help overseas Pakistanis in the process, he said.