NADRA announces changes in national identity laws

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has made key changes to national identity laws, confirmed a spokesperson.

According to the spokesperson, birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates will still be issued by union councils.

The spokesperson said children’s photos will now be included in the B-form. Child Registration Certificates (CRC) for children up to three years of age will continue to follow the old procedure. However, for children above three, CRCs will now include a photo and biometric data.

Children aged between 10 and 18 will get a new CRC with both a photo and biometrics. Previously issued B-forms will remain valid.

NADRA clarified that a new CRC will be required for passport issuance, and passports will not be issued on the old B-form. Every child will now be issued a separate B-form.

Read more: Major change on cards for Pakistani passports

Errors in the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) can now be corrected, said the spokesperson.

NADRA also introduced a voluntary return policy for those holding illegally obtained CNICs. Anyone returning such cards voluntarily will not face legal action.

The FRC has been granted legal status and will now be accepted in inheritance matters and other key legal issues. It will be issued according to different family categories.

Married women can now choose to list either their father’s or husband’s name on their records.

NADRA’s spokesperson assured that the authority’s data is fully secure. Even during tensions between Pakistan and India, there have been no complaints regarding the security of NADRA’s records.