A Pakistani man shows his Computerized National Identity Card. – Photo courtesy Creative Commons
A Pakistani man shows his Computerized National Identity Card. – Photo courtesy Creative Commons

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: Pakistan has emerged as one of the few countries in the world where 96 per cent of the adult population has been registered through the most secure biometric technology, introduced by National Database Registration Authority (Nadra), its spokesman said here on Friday.

He said the registration level in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been observed at 99.9 per cent, followed by Punjab 99 per cent, Gilgit-Baltistan 89 per cent, Sindh and Fata 88 per cent and Balochistan 76 per cent against the projected population.

“Our focus is now Sindh and Balochistan and we are moving ahead in Fata despite severe law and order situation,” the spokesperson said, adding that the task would be achieved within this calendar year.

It is making all-out efforts to get the adult population in Pakistan especially women registered in a minimum possible time to facilitate them in getting voting rights, education, health, employment and other facilities.

Out of the total 92 million CNIC holders, 40 million are female and 52 million male. So far Nadra has registered over 86 per cent of women which was quite significant in the enhancement of female voters’ list. Four years ago less than 50 per cent of women folk were registered.

To facilitate women in acquiring CNICs, Nadra has established 11 women-only centres with female only staff across the country especially in areas with more traditional mindset.

Nadra is also reaching out to NGOs to help facilitate women in obtaining CNICs and achieve 100 per cent registration of womenfolk across the country.

The total number of women included in the national database is 39.77 million. Out of these, 5.29 million are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 594,514 in Fata, 22 million in Punjab, 8.6 million in Sindh, 1.45 million in Balochistan, 356,151 in Islamabad Capital Territory, 270,132 in Giglit-Baltistan and 1.12 million in Azad Kashmir.

In addition to extensive operational endeavours, Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik has also written letter to all political parties where he emphasised that their outreach and presence across the country provided an opportunity to the authority to access pockets of population that remained unregistered.

Nadra agreed to extend its data acquisition units (DAUs) to the doorsteps of citizens and is ready to perform registration operations through numerous mobile units.

The chairman, in his letter, urged political parties to identify people, especially women, who are still unregistered.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary in the dock
Updated 22 Feb, 2025

Judiciary in the dock

Recent developments in SC and IHC certainly seem to have lent credibility to perception that judges perceived as a 'threat’ are being sidelined.
Paying taxes
22 Feb, 2025

Paying taxes

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s ‘hard talk’ at a retail business conference on Thursday was long ...
Rules for thee
22 Feb, 2025

Rules for thee

IT was a year ago when, in the tumultuous aftermath of the 2024 elections, the state banned X. Today, it remains...
Ukraine initiative
Updated 21 Feb, 2025

Ukraine initiative

Whether Trump’s Ukraine peace initiative succeeds or not, it will be difficult for Kyiv, Europe to face Russian military machine without US support.
High cost of SOEs
21 Feb, 2025

High cost of SOEs

THERE are losses and then some. The finance ministry’s latest overview of the federally owned state enterprises...
Poor impression
21 Feb, 2025

Poor impression

RECENT developments in the Senate have provided cause for concern on how parliamentary business is being conducted....