NADRA to block SIMs issued on expired CNICs

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development aimed at tightening digital security and curbing identity fraud, Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar, announced that all SIMs issued against expired or deceased persons’ CNICs will be blocked in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Speaking during a visit by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to the NADRA headquarters on Friday, Chairman Munir explained that the first phase of this initiative will focus on blocking SIMs registered against CNICs issued in 2017 or earlier.

During the visit, Minister Naqvi laid the foundation stone for the new 10-storey NADRA Mega Center in Islamabad’s Sector I-8, which aims to enhance citizen facilitation and capacity.

Chairman NADRA also raised concerns over the practice of multiple government departments and private service providers storing citizens’ biometric data in separate databases, warning that this increases the risk of data misuse, duplication, and identity theft.

In response, the Interior Minister assured that clear directives will be issued to all relevant institutions to halt the independent storage of biometric data, ensuring centralization and security under NADRA’s oversight.

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Furthermore, the Interior Minister emphasized that the nationwide implementation of facial recognition technology must be completed by December 31, 2025, with the Interior Ministry overseeing the progress.

Chairman Munir also briefed Minister Naqvi on key improvements in public service delivery by NADRA in recent years.

He highlighted that critical amendments to the National Identity Card Rules 2002 have been approved by the federal government, enabling the rollout of a more robust identity verification system.

This upgraded system will now include iris scans and facial recognition as part of the biometric framework, alongside traditional fingerprints.

The new measures are intended to combat SIM-related fraud, prevent identity theft, and resolve biometric inconsistencies.

He further informed that NADRA is actively collaborating with major national institutions including the PTA, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to implement these changes and strengthen digital identity security in the country.