The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has cancelled approximately 4.2 million Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) belonging to individuals recorded as deceased in provincial civil registration systems, the authority announced on Wednesday.
The cancellation follows discrepancies between civil registration records and Nadra’s database, as in many cases, while deaths are officially registered, the next of kin do not apply for CNIC cancellation. Nadra’s statement explained that under its statutory mandate, the authority updates the national citizen database with “vital life-event information” such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces, received from provincial and local Civil Registration Management Systems (CRMS). These records are typically submitted by close relatives at local registration offices, including union councils, town committees, and cantonment boards.
“In pursuance of its statutory mandate under Sections 7(b)(ii) and 21 of the Nadra Ordinance 2000, and Rules 16 and 17 of the Nadra (National Identity Card) Rules 2002, [Nadra] has undertaken a nationwide reconciliation of civil registration records with the national citizen database to ensure the accuracy and integrity of Pakistan’s identity system,” the authority said. The cancellation of 4.2 million CNICs is part of this exercise.
The authority emphasized that the move is aimed at preventing potential misuse or fraudulent activity arising from CNICs remaining active after death. Nadra has waived cancellation fees and removed the requirement to deposit the CNIC of the deceased to encourage families to complete the process voluntarily. These measures had already led to approximately three million CNICs being cancelled by relatives of the deceased.
However, over 4.2 million CNICs remained active despite the deaths being recorded, prompting Nadra to act. The authority acknowledged that in rare cases, deaths may have been reported erroneously or fraudulently. In such instances, citizens affected by the cancellation can visit the nearest Nadra registration centre for immediate restoration of their CNIC after biometric verification, free of charge. Nadra will also provide details of the local authority and relative who reported the death.
In addition to this reconciliation, Nadra is conducting a nationwide outreach to strengthen birth registration linkages with the national identity system. The authority is sending SMS notifications to parents or guardians of approximately 14 million children whose births are recorded in provincial systems but not yet registered with Nadra, urging them to complete registration to obtain Child Registration Certificates (CRC/B-Forms).
To further facilitate accessibility, Nadra plans to expand issuance of CRC/B-Forms through its e-Sahulat franchise network across Pakistan, making child registration services more widely available and integrating children formally into the national identity system.
This initiative reflects Nadra’s ongoing efforts to maintain the accuracy, security, and integrity of Pakistan’s national database while preventing potential misuse of identity records.
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