Nadra attributes rise to mobile registration units and incentives of BISP and Watan Card. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Computerised National Identity Cards registration in the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has increased by 73% since 2008, which resulted in higher turnout of 55% voters in the elections.
The number of CNIC holders, according to Nadra, has reached around 94.36 million against almost 54.1 million in 2008 according to the latest data of Nadra available with The Express Tribune.
There are over 53.28 million men and 41.08 million women CNIC holders as compared with nearly 33.3 million men and 20.8 women CNIC holders in 2008.
According to Nadra the ratio of women CNIC holders increased at the rate of 94% during the period under review, while the increase in the ratio of men having CNICs remained static at 60%.
The establishment of registration centres by Nadra in far-flung areas, particularly for women population, over the last five years is one of the factors responsible for the increased ratio of registration.
Besides, registration for cash benefits under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BIPSP) and various support schemes including Watan Cards also helped in higher registration of people with Nadra during the period.
In the past, majority of the voters, particularly in the rural areas could not cast their votes due to unavailability of the NICs. This time around, cards were made for other purposes and proved handy for casting of vote also.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan the overall voter turnout in the general elections was recorded at 55% as compared to 44.4% in the 2008 elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (4)
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The basic identity document isn't free here in UAE, in fact it costs us AED 300 or almost Rs 7500 for the most basic ID document. good that you guys can obtain one for free
In total, more than 20 million CNICs were produced free of cost.
I believe that NADRA's drive to register citizens for free is mainly responsible for helping the organization achieve the registration targets that it boasts today. Free CNICs were an initiative that mobilized even the poorest of the poor to apply for a CNIC, and it was precisely this segment that had been missing from previous registration drives.
Overall, a great achievement by NADRA, even more so considering the role these CNICs have played in the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
Our government had only further extended its lazy sit and suck taxes attitude by giving birth to Nationaly oursourced NADRA "OUTLETS".
All NADRA does is make profit. Expensive ID cards , special VIP treatment for double & triple fee payments.
Majority of Pakistanis probably appreciate and over rate the existence of NADRA but truth is that its just another blood sucking parasite.