NADRA Replaces Microchip Cards With QR-Enabled CNICs Nationwide

ISLAMABAD: (Staff Reporter) – The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has moved away from traditional microchip-based identity verification, introducing CNICs equipped with integrated machine-readable QR codes.

The new QR-enabled cards are designed to facilitate fast and secure identity verification both online and offline. The technology can be used through official platforms, including the NADRA Pak ID system, without requiring a conventional microchip reader.

According to a NADRA handout, the reforms formally establish QR codes as a security and verification feature under the identity card framework. The two-dimensional codes can store encoded information that is converted into usable identity verification data when scanned.

The amended rules also allow NADRA to use a QR code or “any other technological feature” instead of the existing microchip. This provision gives the authority greater flexibility to introduce newer identity verification technologies without requiring amendments to the rules each time.

The changes are expected to make identity checks quicker, more secure and more convenient for Pakistani citizens, both within the country and overseas.

The revised framework will also allow citizens to use a common card format instead of the two currently prevalent types of national identity cards, including versions with and without microchips.

The QR-based system is expected to further strengthen Pakistan’s Digital ID ecosystem and improve interoperability through the National Data Exchange Layer. It will allow service providers to quickly validate identity information while enabling authorised back-end systems to verify the authenticity and status of identity credentials.

According to NADRA, the system could improve transparency and consistency in identity verification across government institutions and regulated sectors. It may also reduce manual processing and help minimise the risks of fraud and impersonation.

Stronger Controls on Suspended Cards

The amendments have also strengthened provisions concerning suspended identity cards. Once a card is suspended, all verification, authentication and related services associated with it will immediately be suspended.

The measure is aimed at preventing a suspended card from continuing to be used through digital verification systems or institutional authentication channels.

The revised rules also explicitly recognise fingerprints and iris scans, strengthening the legal framework for multi-modal biometric authentication.

Lifetime CNICs for Senior Citizens

The amendments introduce another significant facilitation for citizens aged 60 and above.

Under the revised rules, resident and non-resident citizens who reach the age of 60 will be eligible for identity cards carrying a distinctive senior citizen logo and lifetime validity.

The provision is expected to reduce the need for repeated renewals and make identity documentation more convenient for elderly citizens.

The federal government notified amendments to the National Identity Card Rules, 2002, and Pakistan Origin Card Rules, 2002, on February 24, 2026. The changes seek to modernise Pakistan’s identity-document system by incorporating QR-based verification, strengthening authentication controls, expanding biometric recognition and updating identity card formats.