Former Nadra chief Tariq Malik named among Okta’s top 25 identity leaders

ISLAMABAD: Former Nadra chairman Tariq Malik has been included in a list of the world’s top 25 identity leaders compiled by US-based company Okta.

According to the company, the list was prepared by Okta Ventures, the venture investment arm of Okta, and brings together what it described as a diverse group of forward-looking developers, strategists, business leaders and public servants.

Okta said the individuals on the list were being acknowledged for their work in software development, the evolution of standards and strategic implementation aimed at making digital transactions secure and seamless. The company said their efforts address some of the most significant challenges of the digital era.

As part of the recognition, Malik was featured on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square, New York City, along with 24 other global figures named in the list.

Views on digital identity

In an interview featured by Okta, Malik said digital identity systems depend less on technology alone and more on the strength of governance structures behind them.

He said identity systems should be treated as essential governance infrastructure and argued that institutional independence, legal protections and accountability are necessary to maintain public confidence.

Malik also pointed to three global trends shaping the sector: passwordless authentication and verifiable credentials; machine-readable governance that incorporates rules and consent directly into systems; and the convergence of identity, data and artificial intelligence into a single trust layer.

Referring to his experience at Nadra, he said the uptake of such systems rests on trust, utility and governance.

He said successful identity systems provide value to citizens from the outset, support inclusive enrolment and include safeguards that are visible to the public.

Career background

Malik stepped down as Nadra chairman in 2013 after completing his three-year term.

He is currently serving as technical adviser to the World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) programme and has worked on large-scale digital identity and digital public infrastructure projects in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

He also previously served as chief technical adviser on digital ID and digital governance at the United Nations Development Programme.

Malik has received international recognition before as well. He has been listed among the world’s 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitical and among the top 100 digital influencers by One World Identity.

His earlier honours also include the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2009 ID World International Congress in Italy and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for contributions to governance through digital innovation.