NADRA unveils new rules to strengthen digital ID system

Frameworks aim to enhance service delivery, digital economy

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued two regulatory frameworks — the Digital Identity Regulations 2025 and the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL) Regulations 2025 — to modernise Pakistan’s identification system and advance the government’s Digital Pakistan vision.

The frameworks were developed with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and approved by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Under the Digital Identity Regulations, NADRA will build a national digital ID ecosystem, enabling citizens to verify their identities online via biometric and digital credentials. This will allow access to public and private services — including banking, taxation, healthcare, and education — without the need for physical documents.

The NDEL framework sets standards for secure data exchange between government departments and authorised private entities, ensuring interoperability and data protection.

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Together, these regulations form the foundation of a digital system under the World Bank–supported Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), which aims to improve digital governance and public service delivery across federal, provincial, and local levels.

Launched in May 2024 with a total outlay of $78 million, DEEP includes multiple components led by MoITT, NADRA, and the Board of Investment (BOI). NADRA focuses on digital identity and secure data exchange, while the BOI oversees regulatory reforms and the development of the Pakistan Business Portal for business registration and payments.

The Economic Coordination Committee recently approved a Rs477 million technical supplementary grant for DEEP’s second component, led by the BOI, to operationalise project accounts and ensure smooth fund allocation among the executing agencies.