The writer is chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority
At a time of unprecedented economic turbulence, a politically charged atmosphere and social upheaval, organisations need, more than ever before, to operate at peak levels. This is an uphill challenge for anyone, especially those who take it on as a new assignment. The new government needs leaders who understand both how to achieve organisational excellence and how to sustain it.
Even organisations like NADRA need to consistently innovate to stay relevant and that’s the reason we are introducing new products like smart cards. Back in 2008, we were left with just two months’ salary for our employees and now we are a profitable organisation. All this, despite the fact that government institutions owe us billions of rupees. We said no to governmental budgets a long time ago and started financing salaries and technology upgrades from our own earnings through national and international projects — to become a totally self-reliant organisation. Anybody who gets an identity card for the first time, gets it free of charge — a product that was our major revenue earner. About 30 million identity cards have been made free of charge in the last five years. Adult registration has been increased to 73 per cent, with female registration almost double in 2013, compared with 2008. An identity card is transformed into a secure and smart entitlement card that provides accidental life insurance and possibly many more services in the future. Helping document the economy, digging out tax evaders, combing out ghost workers, identifying bogus voters, highlighting ineligible zakat beneficiaries, targeting poor families for financial inclusion and identifying vulnerable flood victims for cash disbursements are a few NADRA solutions that require out-of-the-box thinking.
Perhaps, the most important question facing the new government today is this: how do you build an organisation that performs flawlessly and evolves rapidly, one that delivers sterling results today and changes fast enough to be relevant tomorrow as well? The opposition parties will quickly and mercilessly exploit any operational weakness. Pakistan is entering a ruthless phase of wrenching change: an era in which the future is less and less an extrapolation of the past. Thus, what matters is not just an organisation’s competitive advantage at a point in time, but also its evolutionary advantage over time.
Evidence shows that only a third of the organisations that achieve excellence are able to maintain it for over decades. Even fewer manage to implement successful transformation programmes. These statistics have devastating implications. In government, the majority of reform programmes will fail if organisations won’t be allowed to operate without political influence and bureaucratic slavery.
In this hyper-competitive environment, with a hyperactive media and judiciary, every organisation is either going forward or going backward; there’s no standing still. Getting better is no longer enough. Today, a company must be capable of being different. The real problem in Pakistan is the legacy of bureaucratic processes standing out as a sore thumb in every organisation, doing little to serve the cause of proactive change. Radical management innovation is the answer and we don’t have the luxury of time to go through the analysis paralysis.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2013.
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Tariq Malik has demonstrated the significant achievements by Nadra, Pakistan, perhaps the only institution that Pakistanis feel proud of at this time. The whole article is thought provoking.
The Nawaz Sharif government should consider Tariq Malik to continue leading this great institution.
the fee of NADRA smart card is too high and it is beyond the range of common people of pakistan. it needs to be decreased drastically.
An organization is nothing without its employees, Today NADRA is only on top because of day and night hard working of NADRA employees, NADRA employees achieved every project in given time frame and NADRA employees worked hard in any difficult position either in earthquake or in flood or cash disbursement among BISP project beneficiaries. In return what NADRA employees get from management ? Mental torture from Retired Army brigade based management in shape of transfer/postings far away from home districts, no medical facility like other private firms, banks, autonomous bodies, no proper promotion policy, no any BONUS in any year on any festival like EIDs, 2 types of employees in single organization 1 elite class with handsome packages and other poor class employees with usual Govt based BPS salary packages, why this discrimination with poor employees ?. Elite class officers are enjoying all facilities. Management demoralize BPS based employees. Retired Army brigade is enjoying amazing and countless benefits even using govt vehicles in personal use, using govt offices as their rest houses even getting huge amount against house rent allowance, major rank officers are getting Rs. 100,000+ as basic salary, total salary exceeds 300,000+ per month, officers ranking above major grade.... u can not imagine their packages, in 12 years no any audit of NADRA, if NADRA and its management is so clean why they are not allowing NADRA's audit by AGPR/Accountant general of Pakistan ? I request to chairman NADRA to think for the benefits of poor NADRA employees and also give any statement to compare NADRA employees(not retired brigade) salaries/packages with other govt/semi govt organizations/departments. Be Positive and Think Positive, employees are your assets think for them. Regards;
Nicely highlighted need to stay relevant which should directly or indirectly be aimed by all public sector organizations in Pakistan. The current impetus for innovation, while capitalizing on the organizational strengths and managing internal and external bureaucracies will not only enhance core services of Nadra, but will also realize national and international opportunities further.
Its a mind blowing article and Mr. Malik have covered all the expects of Nadra and the government in an outstanding way. The whole article is thought provoking and I like the following 3 points very interesting.
"The new government needs leaders who understand both how to achieve organisational excellence and how to sustain it."
"In government, the majority of reform programmes will fail if organisations won’t be allowed to operate without political influence and bureaucratic slavery."
"we don’t have the luxury of time to go through the analysis paralysis"
Mr. Malik is a winner of outstanding achievement award from ID world Italy and also awarded international migration award in Abu Dhabi. His contribution for Nadra took this organisation in top leading international companies in system integration and passport technology ( as per international magazine top 50 companies). I searched on net and found him a key note speaker on many international forums which developed international technological face of NADRA and wonderful image building of Pakistani Nation. Pakistan really needs such talent as NADRA have like Mr.Malik.
Well said Mr. Malik! In this fast paced, ever changing and evolving world only constant is change. Pakistan is a country with history of bureaucracy, red tapes and being a playground of powerful politicians (and even justice system now). Most good done by one government is undone by incumbents who try to reinvent the wheel by bringing their own version of change. No doubt NADRA has withstood this wind quite brilliantly. It has remained relevant and provided value added services both to vast Pakistani public and to all government agencies. Ironically many of us treat NADRA as only ID card department of government and overlook valuable services it provides, like streamlining process of Zakat distribution, Benazir Income Support Program, distribution of emergency funds in case of disaster, id verification etc. I am sure I am missing many other services. Role of NADRA, though limited, during past election also deserves a salute. Creating transparency in the election process by providing FP validation and verifying the legitimacy of votes where requested is praiseworthy. But we can’t stop here. This is just the beginning of wonderful future NADRA has and opportunities it presents. New fronts, like tracking money laundering, integrating ID and Passport systems , unifying revenue/tax collection process with FBR , integrating ID card systems with immigration authorities to weed out illegal immigrants who are major contributions to arm and drug trafficking are just some of these opportunities. To sustain the growth and success NADRA has achieved and to continue to marvel on all the fronts, a visionary, vibrant, enthusiastic and energetic leadership is needed. NADRA’s chairmen Tariq Malik has constantly leaded from the front and provided invaluable services to the country. I wish NADRA and its management best of luck in future challenges and endeavors.
Well said Mr. Malik! In this fast paced, ever changing and evolving world only constant is change. Pakistan is a country with history of bureaucracy, red tapes and being a playground of powerful politicians (and even justice system now). Most good done by one government is undone by incumbents who try to reinvent the wheel by bringing their own version of change. No doubt NADRA has withstood this wind quite brilliantly. It has remained relevant and provided value added services both to vast Pakistani public and to all government agencies. Ironically many of us treat NADRA as only ID card department of government and overlook valuable services it provides, like streamlining process of Zakat distribution, Benazir Income Support Program, distribution of emergency funds in case of disaster, id verification etc. I am sure I am missing many other services. Role of NADRA, though limited, during past election also deserves a salute. Creating transparency in the election process by providing FP validation and verifying the legitimacy of votes where requested is praiseworthy.
But we can’t stop here. This is just the beginning of wonderful future NADRA has and opportunities it presents. New fronts, like tracking money laundering, integrating ID and Passport systems , unifying revenue/tax collection process with FBR , integrating ID card systems with immigration authorities to weed out illegal immigrants who are major contributions to arm and drug trafficking are just some of these opportunities.
To sustain the growth and success NADRA has achieved and to continue to marvel on all the fronts, a visionary, vibrant, enthusiastic and energetic leadership is needed. NADRA’s chairmen Tariq Malik has constantly leaded from the front and provided invaluable services to the country. I wish NADRA and its management best of luck in future challenges and endeavors.
NADRA is one of the best run federal organizations. I have been watching NADRA transformation from last few years it has done an outstanding job in public service by providing decision making tool at the federal and provincial government level by verifying and registration of its citizens. I am very impressed with the NADRA services that it had provided for BISP, IDP’s, registering Afghan refugees, distribution of cash assistance for flood victims, verification of recipient of Zakat, Arm license registration, ID verification, compiling electoral roll, Identifying tax invader’s by monitoring travel and property record and Verifying pension eligibility there may be more services too. Bio metric verification of individuals and smart card brings the new revolution in citizen ID management – All these are amazing achievements without using the tax payers money. This is the only federally run organization where I see and read good news for the services being delivered to people of Pakistan and international clients. This transformation of NADRA could not be possible without right Management; in this case current Chairman Tariq Malik has been instrumental in transforming this organization as the true public service organization. NADRA Management has won the trust of people of Pakistan, Employee of NADRA and other local and internal entities that are using the NADRA services. Keep up the good work Mr. Malik Malik.
I strongly believe that Nadra has been evolved under the directions of Tariq Malik and his team, as one of the leading technology organization of Pakistan and recognized globally. The infrastructure, technology, processes and procedures have been totally revamped to gain efficiency and highest quality. Nadra is an example that tells us, if one person/team with strong beliefs, commitment, patriotism,honesty and handwork can turn the tables then why can't a honest political system can change the fate of country.
Great work Tariq, keep it up and keep raising the bar.
I am really impressed with NADRA's performance in last few years. NADRA is not just registration authority but one of the best Technology organization in identity management in the world. Well done Nadra Chairman (Tariq Malik) and his team for great job.
Very few positive news items coming from Pakistan these days, especially for efficiency, innovation and organizational advancement!!!!. After living in US for a while and interacting daily with most of the systems/organizations which are leveraging technology and efficient processes to achieve their objectives, I really feel hopeful and proud that in Pakistan there is also similar organization, NADRA. I have been following NADRA and its achievements for a while and it is truly due to the top leadership which has kept NADRA a shining star and leader among Organizations in Pakistan. I salute Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik, for making this highly successful and self-reliant organization, unlike most other Pakistani institutions, and hoping that he will keep NADRA at the same level performance and advance as almost most of the organizations we encounter in developed economies.
Had to pay RS 10000 for a NICOP card. A bit expensvie but the process was huslte-free which came as a suprise considering the bureaucratic inertia and inefficiency that exists in other institutions!
Well-done! The fiscal drain cannot be stopped unless all loss making organizations stand on their feet. Technology companies all over the world, from India to Brazil, are being made to play a greater role in development. Technology can help to undercut the role of intermediaries and to introduce more transparency.