The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a new change in the national identity document system. The agency has issued a chipless CNIC with a secure QR code made in Pakistan.
The new card uses a QR code instead of an imported microchip. According to NADRA, this change will make the process of identity verification easier.
Citizens will be able to read the QR code on the card through a common smartphone. The Pak ID mobile app will also be used for this purpose.
Polycarbonate material has been used in the production of the new card. According to NADRA, it has been manufactured in Pakistan, which will promote the production of identity documents at the local level.
The QR code will include essential information related to identity and a photo of the cardholder. NADRA says that this system can reduce errors in re-entering names, addresses and other information.
The scope of the new system will not be limited to citizens only. NADRA will provide verification software to telecom companies, banks, hospitals, Pakistan Railways, police and other authorised institutions.
This move can make the process of identity verification more digital in such institutions. The facility of verification through a smartphone will be especially helpful where a dedicated chip reader is not available.
The new card will also include the family number. In addition, special symbols have been added for the disabled, senior citizens and organ donors.
A separate identification symbol has also been kept for the citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The name and address will be listed in English along with Urdu.
NADRA has started issuing the new card in a phased manner from August 14, 2026. In the initial phase, it will replace the existing chipless Teslin CNIC.
In the next phase, the system will be expanded to more identity documents. From January 2027, other national identity cards, including NICOP and Juvenile Card, are also planned to be issued in the new format.
In a later phase, the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) will also be migrated to the QR code chipless system. This will create a more uniform authentication system for different identity documents.
Despite the issuance of the new card, the existing CNICs will not be immediately cancelled. According to NADRA, the cards already issued will remain valid until their due date.
This change is a significant development for Pakistan’s digital identity system. On the one hand, it has sought to reduce reliance on imported microchips, while on the other hand, it could expand the scope of verification through mobile phones.
However, the success of the new system will depend on secure data protocols, software from authorised agencies, and effective implementation. Identity information is sensitive in nature, so along with convenience, data security is also of paramount importance.
According to NADRA, the QR code-based system will be expanded in a phased manner. After this process is completed, Pakistan’s identity system can take a more digital and local technology-based form.
