Karachi: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is enabling and facilitating citizens’ enfranchisement through various measures and initiatives undertaken by the authority. This was said by NADRA’s Chairman Tariq Malik while welcoming a delegation of senators led by Senator Ishaq Dar to the NADRA Headquarters in Islamabad. The senators were invited by NADRA Chairman to a briefing on the citizens’ registration and electoral rolls preparation process.
Since 2002, NADRA has registered over 92.9 million Pakistanis and issued them Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), covering 96% of the adult population. Possession of a valid CNIC is essential for many services and facilities in Pakistan, including the right to vote. In order to facilitate the citizens of Pakistan with this crucial document NADRA has made the process of obtaining a CNIC convenient, easy and affordable by increasing the number of centers and coverage, making the first card free-of-cost and special initiatives for registration of women, minorities and third-gender.
NADRA has issued 29.0 million free CNICs since 24th June 2008. Currently there are 486 National Registration Centers, 254 Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) and 70 Manpacks and Motorcycle Units reaching out to the remotest parts of the country. NADRA has worked closely with other government departments and NGOs to encourage female registration and has designated Friday as a women-only registration day at all NADRA centers. Such initiatives have doubled female registration in the past 4 years. Chairman NADRA has also reached out to all political parties and NADRA is providing MRVs to all areas of Pakistan at the request of their elected local representative.
Upon directions issued by the Parliament NADRA assisted the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with the preparation of the electoral rolls. NADRA cleansed the legacy data of 81.2 million of unverified and deceased voters. NADRA assisted the ECP in preparation of the Draft, Preliminary and Final Electoral Rolls by verifying over80 million CNICs, digitizing over 17.1 million forms, printing 15.1 million pages during the various stages of the voter lists and augmenting 3.6 million additional votes in the ECP data.
Chairman NADRA has requested the citizens of Pakistan to verify their vote through by sending their CNIC number to 8300. Over 10 million people have already verified their vote through this service making this the largest SMS-based vote verification in the world. Changes in the vote can be made by contacting the local ECP office and filling out a simple form. He urged the citizens to check and verify their electoral details and take action if correction is required.