NADRA has overhauled its PakID mobile application, rolling out a suite of updates designed to bypass physical visits to registration centers. The new version allows citizens to perform biometric verification directly through smartphone cameras, a move aimed at clearing the massive backlog at local offices.
The update introduces an integrated payment gateway, enabling users to pay fee challans within the app using credit or debit cards. Previously, applicants were forced to visit authorized bank branches to settle payments before completing their digital applications. By collapsing these steps, the authority expects to cut processing times by nearly 40%.
“The goal is to move the registration center into the citizen’s pocket,” a senior official at the authority told reporters on Tuesday. He pointed to the new ‘liveness detection’ feature, which uses AI to verify identity in real-time, as the primary security layer preventing fraudulent submissions.
Despite these changes, the app remains restricted to specific smartphone models. Users with older hardware or lower-resolution cameras may still face errors during the biometric capture phase. Critics argue that while the tech is impressive, the digital divide remains a hurdle; citizens in rural areas with limited data connectivity or outdated devices are effectively locked out of these improvements.
This rollout comes as the government pushes to transition all identity services to its ‘Digital Pakistan’ framework. Last year, the authority processed over 15 million applications, and officials estimate that at least 30% of that volume could shift to remote processing by the end of this fiscal year.
For now, the app supports renewals and modifications for National Identity Cards (NICs), with plans to include passport services in the next phase. Users are advised to update their existing applications via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to access the new interface.
Whether these changes will actually reduce the long queues at centers remains the real test for the authority’s IT wing. For millions, the convenience is clear; for those without reliable hardware, the wait at the office continues.
