Digital CNIC Equivalent to Physical ID Card, Says NADRA

KARACHI — The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has clarified that the digital Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) is legally equivalent to the physical identity card.

According to a spokesperson for National Database and Registration Authority, some government offices and institutions have been asking citizens to present a physical card or its photocopy instead of accepting the digital version, which is against the existing legal and regulatory framework.

The spokesperson explained that digital identity regulations have been established under the NADRA Ordinance, and Regulations 9 and 10 grant legal status to digital identity credentials. These regulations recognize digital identification documents as valid proof of identity.

NADRA further stated that the use of digital ID cards helps reduce the need for unnecessary photocopies of identity documents, thereby enhancing the protection of citizens’ personal data and preventing misuse of identity information.

The authority has directed all government departments, public and financial institutions, and telecom operators to ensure compliance with these instructions. Citizens can also lodge complaints through NADRA’s official complaint management system if their digital identity card is not accepted.