In a landmark move, NADRA has introduced a new policy allowing married women in Pakistan to decide whether they want their father’s or husband’s name displayed on their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC). The change was implemented following fresh directives issued by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, signaling a progressive shift in identity and documentation rights for women.
Previously, married women were automatically registered under their husband’s name on official documents, regardless of their preference. This sparked long-standing debates around identity, autonomy, and patriarchal impositions in official documentation practices.
With the new policy, women now have the legal right to retain their father’s name on their CNIC even after marriage. This is being hailed as a step toward empowering women and recognizing that marital status should not override personal identity or family lineage if the woman chooses otherwise.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that this change was made keeping in view the sentiments and rights of women, ensuring that no one is forced into accepting a name they don’t identify with. NADRA has been directed to implement the policy nationwide and to make the process simple and accessible.
Social media reacted positively to the announcement, with many praising the move as a “win for women’s individuality.” Human rights activists, too, welcomed the decision, calling it a necessary update to outdated systems.
This decision marks an important step in creating a more inclusive and flexible identity system in Pakistan — one that respects personal choices and acknowledges the diversity of modern family structures.
