The Ministry of Interior revealed in the National Assembly that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has blocked 71,849 Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) over the past five years. This action was taken due to reasons such as fake ID cards, ineligible issuances, and verification issues.
Province-Wise Breakdown of Blocked CNICs
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): 25,981 CNICs were blocked, making it the highest among all provinces.
- Balochistan: Recorded 20,583 blocked CNICs.
- Punjab: A total of 13,564 CNICs were blocked.
- Sindh: Reported 9,677 blocked CNICs.
- Islamabad: The federal capital saw 1,370 blocked CNICs.
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK): Authorities blocked 446 CNICs.
- Gilgit-Baltistan (GB): A total of 228 CNICs were blocked.
Unblocked and Under Verification Statistics
While significant progress has been made in resolving these cases, the data also highlights ongoing challenges.
- 44,460 CNICs have been successfully unblocked after completing the verification process.
- 13,618 CNICs are still under investigation across the country.
Policy Updates and Additional Initiatives
The Ministry of Interior also addressed other critical concerns:
- Regulation of Hazardous Acids: The Poisons Act 1919 is being strengthened in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to ensure the regulated sale of hazardous acids such as sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids. New rules will mandate the purchaser’s identity registration at the time of sale.
- Drug Usage Statistics: The Ministry of Narcotics Control highlighted that the last comprehensive drug survey was conducted in 2013, revealing 6.7 million drug users in the 15-64 age group. A fresh survey by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics is underway and expected to conclude by FY 2025-26. The Anti-Narcotics Force’s recent campaigns resulted in the arrest of 267 individuals and the seizure of over 739 kg of drugs.
This five-year analysis of blocked CNICs highlights NADRA’s efforts to maintain national security and the Interior Ministry’s commitment to addressing broader socio-economic challenges.