KARACHI: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has revealed plans to establish three additional large-scale registration centres in Karachi, aimed at reducing pressure on existing facilities and enhancing service efficiency.
In a media briefing, Nadra spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali explained that the new centres will be located in Malir Cantonment, Malir, and Surjani Town.
He also mentioned that amendments have been made to the national identity registration regulations to better address public grievances. Notably, certificates for birth, death, marriage, and divorce are now being issued through Union Councils.
Additionally, children’s photographs are now incorporated into the ‘B-Form’. For children under three years old, registration certificates (CRC) will still be issued using the previous method—without a photograph. However, for children over three, CRCs will include a photograph and biometric data, valid until they turn 10. From age 10 to 18, a new CRC with both photo and biometric details will be mandatory.
The official clarified that previously issued B-Forms remain valid, but to obtain a passport, a new CRC will be necessary because passports cannot be issued based on the old B-Form. Each child will now receive a separate B-Form.He added that Nadra’s application system now allows for complete family information to be recorded, and any discrepancies in the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) can be corrected.
People who possess Nadra-issued identity cards obtained unlawfully are being offered an opportunity to surrender them voluntarily without facing immediate legal action, he stated.The FRC has been officially recognized as a legal document, valid for inheritance and other legal matters. It will be categorized based on different family structures. Married women now have the option to list either their father’s or husband’s name on their identity documents.
Shabahat Ali also noted that investigations are ongoing into misconduct by employees involved in corrupt practices, including former Nadra officials, reaffirming the organization’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption.
