30pc of people in Karachi without CNICs
By Zaib Azkaar Hussain
Karachi: The Interior Ministry has empowered the city police and Rangers to randomly check Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), but it is quite clear that a large of the citizens do not have CNICs.
Reliable sources in the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) say that more than 7 million people in Karachi have been issued Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). According to sources, NADRA has covered 70 per cent population of the city. However, the claims were being made by some of the political parties, groups and surveys, including the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), show that the city has a population of more than 15 millions people.
The sources claimed that Nadra had left no stone unturned to provide CNICs to the citizens by setting up 30 centres and swift centres. Commenting on the economic problems of people of the low income groups, the sources said that Nadra was bound to provide NICs against certain amount to ordinary citizens and those wanting to get early cards, were asked to pay more. However, the general fee was not out of reach of the citizens.
People were asked to produce their original CNICs during a search operation on Tuesday and those failed to show their cards were taken into custody. The basic idea of the ministry was to identify criminals and the citizens who would be able to show their identity by any means, would certainly be released.
The sources denied that Nadra was issued some fresh directives about the issuance of CNICs to the citizens at reduced rates. The sources added that Nadra would ultimately fulfill its obligations in a critical situation, but would not deviate from due legal requirements and the guidance set by the laws. The issue of long queues and less centres was not a big one, they said. However, the thirty centres set up in different areas of the city could provide identity cards to the citizens easily and safely.
Nadra was committed to issue CNICs to citizens against the decided rates and it could not deviate from its guidelines provided by the government. The rates to provide cards were fixed to meet expenses to some extent. The actual cost of preparation of these computerised cards was more than that the Nadra charged, the sources added.
Source: The News
Date:1/20/2011
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