Nadra achieves target of registering 90 percent of population
KARACHI: Pakistan has emerged as one of the very few countries in the world where 90 percent of the adult population is registered through the most secure biometrics technology introduced by National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
“We are striving to attain 100 per cent registration and even if we hit 94 percent, we are as good as 100 percent because on average 6 percent turns 18 every year” said Tariq Malik, Deputy Chairman Nadra. “We have issued 79.13 million ID cards so far against eligible adult population of 87.89 million. Overall registration increase in last two years (2008-2010) is 60 percent whereas female registration growth is 88.7 percent when compared against previous two years (2006-2008)”.
He said the registration of adult male population has already reached 99 per cent but female adults’ registration is still 77 per cent due to cultural inhibitions. We have overcome many hurdles in this regard as the overall registration in one of the most conservative province of Kyber Pakhtunkwa has already reached 99 per cent. He said the people of this province realised the benefits of registration to avail many social benefits.
He said the registration level at Azad Jammu and Kashmir is also 99 per cent followed by Punjab 91 per cent, Gilgit-Baltistan 88 per cent, Sindh 84 per cent and Balochistan 74 per cent. “Our focus is now Sindh and Baluchistan and we are moving ahead in Fata despite severe law and order situation” he said adding that the task would be achieved within this year.
While stating the benefits of registration, He observed that biometrics identification of every Pakistani citizen of this country would bring transparency in all social political and economic affairs, besides providing vital health, education and social information for initiating targeted development programs.
Paying tribute to Nadra employees, he said they showed remarkable dedication in increasing the registration despite bad law and order situation since 2008. He said some important government initiatives also facilitated increase in issuance of Computerised National Identity Cards. “Prime Ministers decision to provide free CNICs attracted 1.7 million people and BISP attracted poorest of poor to get registered” added Tariq Malik.
Malik said that successful cash disbursement using biometrics technology and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced People as an after math of SWAT operation was also possible due to accurate data available about the population with Nadra.
Banks in Pakistan, he added are flourishing because they know the identity of all their account holders. He said crimes have been unearthed after tracing the identity of criminals’ mobile phones that are issued after verification of their CNICs. “It is high time that the elections should be held on CNIC basis. This would definitely bring transparency in elections” said Tariq.
Nadra opened many new registration centres, increased its fleet of mobile registration vans and established make shift semi-mobile registration centres to cope with the surge in far-flung areas. “Our mountaineers are trekking in mountain searching for unregistered population,” he concluded.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:6/30/2010
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