National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has decided to introduce special security features in the B Form (registration certificate) for children over 10.
Following the direction of the Federal Minister of Interior, Mohsin Naqvi, fingerprints and photographs of children over 10 years old will become a mandatory part of the B Form.
The issuance of the new B Form will be carried out in phases, starting from January 15. NADRA has introduced this new feature in collaboration with the Passport Department, Express News reported.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that these measures will help prevent the theft and misuse of children's identity information. They will play a significant role in curbing crimes such as fake identity cards for children, the illegal acquisition of passports, and human trafficking.
He congratulated the Chairman of NADRA, the Director General of the Passport Department, and the entire team for implementing reforms in the B Form in a short time.
According to the Ministry of Interior spokesperson, in the first phase, fingerprints and photographs will be taken from children aged 10 to under 18 starting from January 15 at NADRA centres.
A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child, bringing their computerised national identity card and the child's computerised birth certificate issued by the Union Council or Town Committee.
The spokesperson further mentioned that after the necessary process at NADRA, a photo-enabled B Form will be issued for the child. For applying for a new passport, children over 10 and under 18 must present the new B Form containing their fingerprints and photo issued by NADRA.
The old B Form, which does not include a photo and fingerprints, will not be accepted for children in this age group.
The Ministry of Interior spokesperson also emphasised that parents or legal guardians should ensure the creation of a new B Form with the child's fingerprints and photograph.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports will verify the child's photo and fingerprints from NADRA’s database during passport application processing. Further reforms will be introduced in the coming stages.
Earlier, NADRA updated its fee structure for the Child Registration Certificate, commonly known as the B-form, which is crucial for registering minors in Pakistan’s national database.
The regular fee for obtaining the B-form remains Rs 50, while those opting for expedited processing will incur a fee of Rs 500.
This move is part of NADRA’s efforts to streamline the registration process and ensure children in Pakistan are officially recognized from birth. To apply for the B-form, parents must provide a computerised birth certificate issued by the relevant Union Council.
At least one parent is required to have a valid National Identity Card (NIC) or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
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