Pakistan

NADRA reopens offices countrywide

Offices to remain open from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday, while from 10am to 1pm on Friday

Our Correspondent May 04, 2020

Dr Sania Nishta, SAPM on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, reviewing arrangements in the newly opened NADRA offices in Islamabad. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD : The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Monday reopened its offices countrywide to facilitate citizens after a hiatus in operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the directives issued on the resumption of activities, NADRA offices will remain open from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday, while from 10am to 1pm on Friday.

Citizens have been asked to call helpline 7000 to seek relevant information before arriving at the NADRA office.

People have been advised to use masks, santisers, and adopt other pre-emptive measures to avail any facility at the outlets.

They will further have to follow all safety guidelines posted inside and outside the offices.

The employees of NADRA have also been directed to ensure safety protocols, such as wearing masks and gloves.

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According to the authority, computerised national identity cards (CNICs) expiring from September 2019 to June 2020 have been extended until July 2020.

The authority said currently it would priortise new registrations and related biometric validation process.

Citizens have been advised to approach NADRA for new CNICs after May 15.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Sania Nishtar had appealed for the reopening of NADRA offices as the government's cash subsistence grant for the most vulnerable sections of society is disbursed based on registration through CNICs.

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Sania had taken up the matter with the federal cabinet and the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) regarding a formal decision.

She noted due to faulty thumb impressions and other related issues, hurdles were coming in the disbursement of the relief fund to those affected due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

She also highlighted that there were issues in some of the death certificates which was causing trouble in the process of releasing cash to the needy under the initiative.

The Ministry of Interior had ordered the closure of all NADRA offices on March 20 amid growing number of coronavirus cases in the country.