ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has stopped identity card services at General Post Offices (GPOs) across Pakistan. The reason given is that few people used the service and many were unaware of it.
According to sources, NADRA started offering services like identity card renewals, address changes, and marital status updates at post offices three years ago to make things easier for the public. A 10-year agreement was signed with Pakistan Post, and special counters were set up in post offices in cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
However, reports say that while the service helped reduce crowds at main offices, it did not gain much attention from the public. NADRA officials stated that the main issue was a lack of awareness about the service.
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NADRA has now instructed staff at all GPOs to return equipment and collected fees. People whose identity cards are ready have been asked to collect their documents before the counters close completely. This decision affects 83 counters across the country.
In Karachi alone, 10 major post offices, including those on I.I. Chundrigar Road and Saddar, offered this service. A NADRA official said most citizens did not even know these services were available at post offices.
A NADRA spokesperson confirmed the decision, saying, “The number of applicants at post office counters was very low, so we made this choice.” They added that there are plans to extend these services to union councils in the next financial year to make them more accessible to the public.
It should be noted that earlier, NADRA has started a biker service in Karachi to help residents with identity card renewals and other services.
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The Director General of NADRA Karachi Region handed over the keys of equipped bikes to the riders. At the event, the Director General of NADRA Sindh said citizens can register for the service through NADRA’s helpline.
The Director General of NADRA Sindh explained that the biker service will not issue new identity cards. The service will be available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
He added that the biker service will initially be available in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Mirpur Khas. Citizens can call 7000 or 111786100 to book the service. The call center will ask for the citizen’s address and the service they need. At the start, there will be three biker riders in Karachi and one each in Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas.
