NADRA mandates acceptance of Digital ID as ‘legally equal to physical CNIC’

• Clarifies offices and service providers can’t refuse Digital ID, dematerialized CNIC, NICOP, or POC

• Cites Digital Identity Regulations 2025 giving full legal recognition to digital credentials, stressing use of Digital ID reduces photocopies, strengthening citizens’ data protection

 ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority has observed that certain offices and service providers are insisting on the production of a physical Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) or its photocopy and refusing to accept the Digital ID or dematerialized CNIC or NICOP or POC available through NADRA’s official digital identity platform PakID.

In a statement issued on Saturday, NADRA clarifies that such practice is inconsistent with the applicable legal framework.

Under the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance 2000, NADRA is mandated to maintain the national citizen database and issue identity credentials. Pursuant to this authority, the NADRA Digital Identity Regulations 2025 provide legal recognition to digital identity credentials issued by NADRA, the statement said.

In particular: •    Regulation 9 (Legal Recognition of Digital Identity Credentials) provides that a digital identity credential issued or authorized by NADRA shall have the same legal status, validity, and evidentiary value as a physical identity credential issued by the Authority.

•             Regulation 10 (Acceptance of Digital Identity Credentials) provides that any public authority, regulated entity, or organization requiring proof of identity shall accept digital identity credentials issued or authorized by NADRA as valid proof of identity.

Accordingly, the DigitalID or dematerialized CNIC, NICOP or POC is legally equivalent to the physical CNIC and must be accepted wherever proof of identity is required.

The use of digital identity or dematerialized credentials also helps reduce the need for photocopies of CNICs, thereby strengthening the protection of citizens’ personal data and minimizing the risk of misuse of identity information.

All government departments, public authorities, financial institutions, telecom operators, and other service providers are advised to ensure compliance with the above legal provisions and to issue appropriate instructions to their field offices.

Citizens who face refusal in acceptance of the Digital CNIC may register their complaints with NADRA through its official complaint channels so that appropriate action may be taken in accordance with the law.

NADRA remains committed to facilitating secure, convenient, and technology-enabled identity services while protecting citizens’ data.