Suri asks NADRA to facilitate unblocking of CNICs

NA deputy speaker will inaugurate NADRA Sahulat Centre in Quetta next week

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri has directed the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to facilitate people of Balochistan in restoration of their blocked Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).

Suri issued this instruction during his meeting with NADRA Chairman Usman Yousaf Mobin at the Parliament House the other day.

CNIC is the primary proof of a person’s Pakistani nationality. NADRA that issues this card on basis of computerized database of citizens has in the last decade blocked a number of ID cards on suspicion.

The people who have borne the brunt of this suspension of IDs belong both to the Khyber Pakhtunkwa and Balochistan provinces as well as areas of Karachi where migrants coming from former East Pakistan settled after disintegration of the country in 1971.

Talking up the issue of blocking of IDs which causes serious problems to citizens, Suri asked NADRA chairman to make the conditions convenient for unlocking such CNICs.

The deputy speaker noted that a large number of CNICs had been blocked in the province, causing severe problems to the people.  He said CNICs of people who are bona fide citizens of Pakistan were also blocked due to absence of required documents and legal complications.

Suri lauded NADRA for completion of work on a modern NADRA Sahulat Centre in Satellite Town Quetta, which was established on his directive.

He expressed confidence that the facility will help citizens of Quetta in acquisition of the CNIC and problems with regard to acquisition and registration of the CNICs will be resolved.

“Population of Quetta city has increased manifold and the NADRA Convenience Centres in the city are becoming insufficient making it difficult for the citizens to get the CNICs.”

He also directed NADRA chairman to set up a modern 24/7 mega facility centre in Quetta city.

NADRA Chairman Usman Yousaf Mubin thanked the deputy speaker and briefed him about the centre being set up in Satellite Town. He said NADRA Sahulat Centre has been completed and staff deployed there. He invited the deputy speaker to inaugurate the facility.

He also assured him that NADRA would remove the obstacles in relation to the restoration of blocked CNICs and said a board would be set up to resolve the issues of block ID cards which would review all the issues and present its recommendations.

Mubin also assured him to set up a 24/7 mega facility centre in Quetta. The deputy speaker accepted NADRA chief’s invitation to inaugurate the facility and said he would go to Quetta next week for the purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2019.