The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has formally declared that the Digital Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) available through its PakID mobile application, held the same legal status as the physical CNIC.
The authority expressed concern that several offices and service providers were still refusing to accept digital identity credentials and insisting on physical cards or photocopies, an approach NADRA says violates the prevailing legal framework.
In a statement issued on Friday, NADRA clarified that under the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance 2000, the authority was empowered to maintain the national citizen database and issuance of identity credentials in both physical and digital forms. This legal mandate was further reinforced by the newly notified NADRA Digital Identity Regulations 2025, which formally recognized digital identity credentials as fully valid.
According to the regulations: Regulation 9, titled “Legal Recognition of Digital Identity Credentials”, explicitly states that any digital identity document issued or authorized by NADRA carries the same legal status, validity, and evidentiary value as a physical credential.
Regulation 10, “Acceptance of Digital Identity Credentials”, requires all public authorities, regulated entities, and organizations demanding proof of identity to accept NADRA-issued digital credentials without exception.
The digital identity suite includes the Digital CNIC, dematerialized CNIC, NICOP, and POC, all accessible through the PakID (NADRA Digital Identity Platform).
NADRA emphasized that digital identity adoption could significantly reduce the circulation of photocopied ID documents, thereby protecting citizens’ personal data and limiting risks of identity theft and misuse. The authority urged all government departments, public institutions, financial entities, telecom operators, and private service providers to align their procedures with the updated regulations and issue clear instructions to their field offices.
Citizens who encounter refusal of Digital CNIC acceptance have been encouraged to file complaints through NADRA’s official channels so corrective action can be taken.
Reaffirming its commitment to secure and technology-driven identity management, NADRA noted that the shift toward digital credentials is a key step in modernizing public services and enhancing data protection standards across Pakistan.