For countless individuals, the simple act of verifying their identity through a fingerprint scan has become a significant barrier to accessing essential services, a digital hurdle that excludes them from banking, property ownership, and communication. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has addressed this widespread issue by launching a sophisticated biometric verification service based on facial recognition, which became available at all its registration centers on January 20, 2026. This initiative directly responds to a crucial amendment in the National Identity Card (NIC) Rules, which expanded the definition of recognized biometric identifiers to officially include facial photographs and iris scans in addition to traditional fingerprints. The move is a vital step toward greater inclusivity, ensuring that citizens with worn, faded, or otherwise unreadable fingerprints—often due to age, manual labor, or specific medical conditions—are no longer disenfranchised. This new system provides a secure and reliable alternative, enabling them to complete transactions that were previously impossible and re-integrating them into the formal economy.
1. How the Verification Process Functions
When a citizen encounters a failure with fingerprint-based verification, the new system provides a clear and structured alternative path that prioritizes both security and user convenience. The individual must first visit their nearest NADRA registration center, where a new facial photograph will be captured using specialized equipment. This newly captured image is then instantly and securely transmitted to NADRA’s central database, where advanced algorithms compare it against the citizen’s existing record photograph to confirm a match. Once the identity is successfully authenticated, NADRA issues a formal verification certificate. This document is comprehensive, containing the specific purpose of the verification, the recent facial photograph, the photograph from the existing record for comparison, the citizen’s CNIC number, full name, and father’s name. For enhanced security and digital traceability, the certificate also includes a unique tracking ID and a scannable QR code. The certificate remains valid for a period of seven days, providing the individual with a reasonable timeframe to present it to any institution that requires biometric proof of identity, thereby completing their required transaction or service registration.
A Path Toward Broader Integration
The rollout of the facial recognition system was strategically planned to ensure a smooth transition for both citizens and institutions, with a clear roadmap for future expansion. Initially, NADRA called upon regulators, government bodies, and private sector organizations to upgrade their systems in accordance with approved technical standards to support this new method. The integration was designed in two key phases: the first phase required institutions to update their software to process the new digital certificates, while the second phase mandated the installation of cameras at service points, either as standalone units or integrated into existing biometric verification machines. Beyond this institutional integration, the authority outlined plans to dramatically increase accessibility. The facial verification service was slated for release through the widespread e-Sahulat franchise network, bringing the capability to more communities. Ultimately, the long-term vision was to embed this functionality within the Pak-ID mobile application, which would allow citizens to perform verifications directly from their smartphones, eliminating the need to visit a NADRA center and making the process truly seamless. This comprehensive approach aimed to build a more resilient and inclusive digital identity ecosystem for all.
