NADRA’s decision has prompted PTA and telecom operators to review alternative technical and regulatory arrangements for nationwide facial verification.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has withdrawn its proposed facility for facial verification of mobile SIMs through the Pak-ID application, prompting the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cellular operators to examine alternative arrangements.
According to a PTA document, NADRA had proposed in 2025 that its Pak-ID app be used for facial-recognition-based SIM verification. Following the proposal, cellular mobile operators completed a proof of concept for the system.
NADRA has now changed its position and expressed regret over making the Pak-ID facial verification facility available for SIM issuance.
The authority has instead proposed that cellular mobile operators deploy dedicated hardware at their own premises to support facial-verification services.
The proposed arrangement would also require operators to comply with NADRA’s newly enacted regulations governing access to the National Data Warehouse, which were published on July 28, 2026.
“The implications of the same are under review at PTA and industry end,” the PTA document said.
The development comes as the PTA continues examining the introduction of facial-recognition technology at SIM issuance points across Pakistan. The proposed technology is intended to expand biometric verification options beyond existing mechanisms used for subscriber authentication and SIM registration.
Under NADRA’s revised proposal, telecom operators may need to invest in dedicated equipment and integrate their systems with the required identity-verification infrastructure while meeting the applicable data-access requirements.
The regulatory, technical and operational implications of the proposed framework are currently being reviewed by the PTA and telecom industry.
Separately, one cellular operator is evaluating the possibility of offering biometric verification, including facial recognition, through its mobile application. The proposal could provide subscribers with another verification channel without relying exclusively on physical SIM issuance points.
The technical feasibility of the mobile app-based option is currently being assessed. If deemed viable, the operator is expected to proceed with a proof of concept before further technical development.
For now, nationwide facial-recognition-based SIM verification remains under review as the PTA and telecom operators assess alternatives following NADRA’s decision to withdraw the proposed Pak-ID facility.
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