Under the government’s Digital Pakistan Vision.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is working to make computerized National Identity Cards a digital wallet and an update to an existing application is likely to be available by the end of this year.
According to media reports, NADRA chief Tariq Malik said that turning this vision of the government into reality, we have laid the foundation stone of digital ID through an online portal to facilitate the applicants of National Identity Card. ‘Pak Identity’ mobile app was launched.
Explaining the features of Digital Wallet, the Chairman of NADRA said that it would be a unique digital ID, ensuring the convenience of the people and would revolutionize the National ID ecosystem in Pakistan by eliminating the traditional physical ID. So this is an important development.
He added that such technology offers positive results in digital contactless banking, financial inclusion, ease of doing business, and e-governance initiatives with the introduction of remote identification and e-KYC (know consumers electronically).
He said that this app helps in scanning the documents required for processing a person’s identity card with the help of biometric fingerprints, facial recognition, and smartphones without going to NADRA office or embassy.
He said that in a short span of time, 75,000 Pakistanis living abroad have been able to obtain their National Identity Cards (also known as Nikop) with the help of this application, which has two-factor authentication at home.
This application is available on both Android and iOS platforms.
Tariq Malik said that with the launch of this application, Pakistan has become the first country to implement a contactless biometric and verification system with the help of smartphone cameras.
He said that after this successful testing with 75,000 overseas Pakistanis, NADRA will now introduce a digital wallet.
NADRA has so far registered 120 million adults across the country, which is 96 percent of the country’s population over the age of 18, with 83 percent in Balochistan and more than 96 percent in other provinces.
He said that NADRA is going to open centers in the remaining 20 out of 517 tehsils of the country till June.
He further said that NADRA would also launch 96 mobile vans which would bring their number across the country to 356.
Speaking to a local news outlet, Nadra chief Tariq Malik said, “We’ve launched the ‘Pak Identity’ mobile app as a fundamental building block of digital ID. The initiative will enable applicants of national identity cards via an online portal. The app enables capture of biometric fingerprints, facial recognition, and scan documents needed to process a person’s Identity card using smartphones, without visiting respective offices (NADRA and embassy).”
Regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the forthcoming elections and the role of NADRA in verifying the data, the NADRA Chairman said that whether there is an EVM or not, the elections will be conducted through NADRA’s data. NADRA has no role in this, it is the purview of the Election Commission.
“The digital dividends of such innovative technology will render positive results in contactless banking, ease of doing business, financial inclusion, and e-governance initiatives by offering remote identification,” he added.
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