Pakistan Recognizes Digital Identity Cards on Par with Physical CNICs

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has officially confirmed that digital identity cards now carry the same legal validity as physical CNICs. Previously, some government offices and institutions were still requesting physical cards or photocopies, a practice NADRA has now declared illegal for violating the established legal framework. Under the NADRA Ordinance, digital IDs are recognized as fully valid proof of identity, and all government departments, public institutions, financial services, and telecom operators are required to comply. Citizens are encouraged to report any refusal to accept digital IDs through NADRA’s official complaint system. Introduced last year during NADRA’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, Pakistan’s first fully digital identity card can now be securely stored via the Pak ID mobile app, allowing smartphones to serve as official ID carriers. Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, hailed the launch as a major step forward in Pakistan’s digital identity initiative, highlighting the government’s commitment to modernizing citizen services while reducing the reliance on physical documentation.