QUETTA: The Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Monday launched a project to provide 36,000 fresh NIC cards to women and 49,000 replacement cards, free of cost, to women, persons with disabilities, and transgender persons who lost their NICs due to unprecedented floods in nine districts of Balochistan and Sindh.

Under the project, named National Identity Cards for Women and Marginalised Groups in Flood-Affected Areas, and launched at a ceremony here on Monday, 85,000 women and other marginalised groups in the flood-stricken districts of Balochistan and Sindh would be facilitated in acquiring their National Identity Cards (NICs).

The project will ensure delivery of 36,000 fresh NIC registration cards and 49,000 replacement cards free of cost to women, persons with disabilities, and transgender persons in Jaffarabad, and Naseer­abad of Balo­chistan, and Jhal Magsi, Sanghar, Khairpur, Larkana, Mir­purkhas, Ghotki, and Dadu of Sindh.

Speaking at the ceremony, TDEA Represen­tative Rashid Chaudhry said his organisation had been active for the past 12 years to encourage participation of women and other marginalised groups in electoral and political processes.

Many people lost their NICs and other documents that they need access for state services. He said the TDEA and its partners were pleased to be part of an exemplary nationwide effort to help flood-affected people of Sindh and Balochistan.

36,000 new cards will be given

Parliamentary leader of BNP-Mengal Malik Naseer Shahwani said that recent floods had caused huge losses in Balochistan. He regretted that the response of the government and aid agencies did not match requirements of the flood-hit people.

Balochistan Commi­ssion of the Status of Women (BCSW) Chair­person Fauzia Shaheen said that NIC registration of women needed to be prioritised in Balochistan to minimise the gender gap in people’s registration.

She said registration of flood victims was critical for them to access the relief and rehabilitation services.

Syed Shabahat Ali, Director of Operations of Nadra, Balochistan, said the authority was making every effort to facilitate more women registration in order to bridge the registration gap between men and women, particularly in flood-affected areas of the country.

Ms Rubaba Khan Buledi, Secretary to Adviser on Law and Parliamentary Affairs, said that flood victims in Balochistan were awaiting support in rehabilitation and provision of NICs to women victims.

UNDP Balochistan Chief Zulfiqar Durrani said that this project, supported by UNDP, was a pilot project to provide NICs to flood victims.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2023