NADRA begins phased issuance of a locally manufactured, chip-free QR-based national identity card, with wider rollout planned for January 2027.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a major step toward self-reliance in identity technology as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) begins issuing a locally manufactured, chip-free national identity card based on secure QR code technology.
The new national identity card is being introduced from Aug. 14, replacing the existing chip-free Teslin identity card in phases. NADRA said the new card is manufactured in Pakistan using polycarbonate material, while an imported microchip has been replaced with a secure QR code.
The QR code is designed to make identity verification faster and more accessible. Authorized users will be able to scan it using a standard smartphone, while verification will also be possible through NADRA’s Pak ID mobile application.
The QR code will contain relevant identity information and the cardholder’s photograph. The system is also expected to reduce errors during the entry of names, addresses and other identification details by allowing authorized institutions to verify information digitally.
NADRA plans to provide QR verification software to authorized organizations, including telecommunications companies, banks, hospitals, Pakistan Railways, police and other relevant institutions. This could help streamline identity verification across a range of public and private services.
The new card will also carry the family number and designated symbols for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors and citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The cardholder’s name and address will be printed in both Urdu and English.
According to the rollout plan, the QR-based card will be expanded from January 2027 to all categories of national identity documents, including the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Juvenile Cards. In the final phase, the Pakistan Origin Card will also transition to the new chip-free QR-based format.
NADRA said previously issued identity cards will remain valid until their stated expiry dates, meaning existing cardholders will not need to replace valid documents immediately.
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