ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to immediately block all mobile SIM cards that are registered using expired Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). In the first phase, SIMs issued before or during 2017 will be blocked.
This decision was made during an important meeting at NADRA Headquarters in Islamabad, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi laid the foundation stone for a 10-storey NADRA Mega Center in Islamabad’s Sector I-8. The mega center is expected to be completed by June 2026.
The meeting decided that in the next phases, SIMs issued on CNICs that expired after 2017 will also be blocked. The goal is to ensure that only active and valid ID cards are used for mobile SIM registration.
According to the Ministry of Interior, this action is being taken in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). SIMs registered in the names of deceased persons or those with expired CNICs are also being blocked.
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Officials in the meeting expressed concern that some government departments and service providers are saving citizens’ biometric data in local databases, which increases the risk of data theft or misuse.
The Chairman of NADRA recommended using facial recognition technology, especially for people who face difficulties with fingerprint verification. He emphasized using NADRA’s secure and verified database for this purpose.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the ministry will soon issue instructions to all departments to stop storing citizens’ biometric data separately. He directed that facial recognition technology must be implemented nationwide by December 31, 2025, under the supervision of the Interior Ministry.
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The meeting was also informed that NADRA has now expanded its services to 44 new tehsils and selected union councils that previously had no access to its facilities.
Naqvi stated that all 31 union councils in Islamabad will have NADRA services available by June 30, 2025. He also highlighted the importance of improving services for overseas Pakistanis and instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify countries and regions where NADRA services are needed most.
Furthermore, the minister approved the establishment of NADRA regional offices in Multan, Sukkur, and Gwadar. The NADRA Chairman gave a detailed briefing on the organization’s progress in service delivery, accessibility, and digital transformation.
