ISLAMABAD: Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik briefed a Somalian ministerial delegation about e-government initiatives, its success in achieving universal ID registration coverage across Pakistan and utilisation of national ID data to reform governance of state institutions.

Headed by Interior Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi the delegation comprised Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ahmed Abdirahman Hassan, Deputy Minister of Interior-Puntland State Abdiwali Mire Hirsi, Deputy Minister of Interior-Galmudug State Ahmed Osman Adan, Minister of Interior of Southwest State Abdulahi Hassan, Adviser to Office of President Hoden Aden Osman, NIRA Director General Abduallahi Bihi Hussenand Ambassador Somalia Shirwa Abdullahi Ibrahim.

Tariq Malik said following Pakistani government’s ‘Look Africa Policy’, Nadra was poised to work closely with the Somalian government.

He assured the high-powered delegation that Nadra would surely extend all possible G2G support in ID-related projects and urged the visiting dignitaries to develop an ID ecosystem that would bring about ‘Single Version of Truth’.

The potential is endless for the digital public goods to be rolled out on the basis of a good ID system, he added.

The Nadra chairman said: “A good ID system helps build a strong democratic system, especially in developing countries. The ethos of democracy in ‘One Person, One Vote’ is better delivered through a national ID system that facilitates in development of computerised electoral rolls with negligible margins of voter fraud and other fraudulent practices.”

It is pertinent to mention here that under South-South cooperation, Nadra was assisting the governments of Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya and Somalia with regard to development of identity management and civil registration system.

The Somalian interior minister lauded the efforts of the incumbent Nadra chairman, Tariq Malik and his team. He showed his desire to get Nadra’s assistance for the Somalian government to develop a robust identity management system and its linkage with other disparate systems operating in Somalia and its states.

Meanwhile, Nadra chairman also held reception in honour of the ministerial delegation of Somalia in Islamabad.

Minister for Planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira, Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Interior Secretary Yousuf Naseem Khokhar attended the reception.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the importance of mutual relations between Pakistan and Somalia. He said during his last stint as interior minister in 2018, both countries agreed to enhance mutual cooperation and boost bilateral relations.

Mr. Iqbal appreciated the efforts of the Nadra chairman and Somalian Interior Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in materialising the initiative that he took while signing an MoU on the development of identity management and civil registration system in March 2018 with the then Somalian ambassador to Pakistan, Khadija Mohammad Al-Makhdoomi.

Mr Iqbal said Somalia was a country of great fortune and strategic importance and Pakistan was ready to assist the Somalian government in registering its citizens, immigration services and other e-government solutions.

A week-long schedule of activities has been developed to engage the Somalian counterpart in showcasing e-government solution of Pakistan anchored in Digital ID.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2022