31.9 million births await NADRA upload

ISLAMABAD:

Despite registering 31.9 million births at the union council level in 2025, these records have yet to be uploaded to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), according to the authority's latest performance report.

The report, recently submitted to the interior ministry, notes that NADRA now has 227 million individuals on its central registry, covering almost 97% of the country's population. Of the registered population, 52% are men and 48% women.

NADRA's biometric repository is extensive, containing facial data for 170 million people, iris scans for seven million, and over 1.68 billion fingerprints, highlighting the authority's digital reach. In 2025 alone, the agency processed 445 million biometric verifications.

The report highlights substantial increases in citizen registration over the year. Overall national registration rose 4%, registrations of children under 18 jumped 11%, renewals of expired ID cards increased 24%, and cancellations following deaths surged 900%. Female registrations also grew by 8%, reflecting progress toward gender inclusion.

By year-end, 938 registration centres were operational nationwide. NADRA opened 75 new centres and 138 new counters, while adding 126 counters at existing offices.

Mobile registration services remained active through 231 vans, including 33 satellite-enabled units for remote locations. At the local UC level, 62 counters continued to function, and six new overseas counters were established to serve Pakistanis abroad.

Digital services also saw significant adoption. The Pak Identity mobile app handled 15% of NADRA's workload, with over 12 million downloads, allowing citizens to access services without visiting physical centres.

The report also notes policy milestones in 2025. The federal government approved the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework, introduced amendments to ID card regulations, launched biometric registration certificates for children as young as three, and granted family registration certificates formal legal status.

While NADRA's database now covers most of the population, the report acknowledges that gaps remain, particularly in the registration of women and young children in some areas.

To reach remote and underserved regions, 231 mobile registration vans — including 33 satellite units — were deployed, complemented by Minipacs and motorbike teams providing services at the Union Council level, where 62 counters remained active. Overseas Pakistanis also saw improved access to documentation through the establishment of six new counters in five different countries.

A major milestone in the authority's digital shift was the performance of the Pak Identity mobile application, which handled 15 percent of NADRA's overall workload. The app, whose downloads exceeded 12 million, enabled millions of citizens to complete their documentation processes from home without visiting a NADRA center.