NADRA sacks several officers over data leak of 2.7mln Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman sad several officials were dismissed for a data breach affecting 2.7 mln Pakistani citizens. 

He informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior.

The breach exposed names, addresses and other crucial identity details. NADRA manages the civil records of all Pakistani nationals, and such a breach can have far-reaching consequences. Reportedly, the data was later available on the dark web and was up for sale.

Chairman Nadra told the committee that one grade 19 and five other officers were sacked for the massive breach. Earlier, a committee member disclosed that no action was taken against those responsible for data leakage.

Agha Rafiullah said those responsible for the data leak are still working in Nadra and are an important part of the department as no action has been taken against them. Furthermore, they were transferred to better posts, he said.

The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior presided by Chairman Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz. Chairman Nadra told the committee that Nadra needs offices in 61 tehsils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan but it could not expand its network because that would increase the CNICs card fee.

The committee was informed that Nadra’s total workforce stands at 20,577, with 202 officers hired and 60 officers dismissed or removed from service during the last five years. Additionally, it was reported that revenue generation has increased from Rs 23.55 billion in 2019-20 to Rs57 billion in 2023-24.

Responding to the increasing need for Nadra facilitation centers in Karachi’s districts of Korangi, East, West, and Central, the official informed the committee that 26 National Registration Centers (NRCs) and 3 Mega NRCs are currently operational across various districts in Karachi.

Nadra is planning to open one additional NRC and four Mega NRCs in Karachi during 2024-25. The committee emphasised the need for establishing Nadra facilitation centres at the Tehsil level nationwide.