Islamabad, May 31, 2025 — The Pakistani government has announced plans to implement a unified facial recognition system nationwide by December 31, 2025. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Interior, aims to enhance security, identity verification, and data protection.
During a high-level meeting at the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) headquarters, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed all departments to cease separate biometric storage and transition to NADRA’s centralized facial recognition database.
The move is expected to reduce identity fraud and assist individuals facing fingerprint verification issues.
Key Measures Under the New Facial Recognition System
- Blocking of SIMs on Expired CNICs: Mobile SIMs registered on expired identity cards will be immediately blocked, starting with CNICs issued in 2017 or earlier.
- Expansion of NADRA Services: The government will extend NADRA’s services to 44 underserved tehsils and union councils, including all 31 union councils in Islamabad by June 30, 2025.
- New NADRA Mega Center: A 10-storey NADRA Mega Center is being constructed in Islamabad’s I-8 sector, expected to be completed by June 2026.
- Advanced Biometric Technology: NADRA is introducing facial recognition and iris scanning to strengthen digital identity verification.
Government’s Vision for Digital Security
The Interior Minister emphasized that data security and fraud prevention are top priorities. NADRA is collaborating with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to ensure secure biometric verification.
Additionally, the PAK ID mobile app, which has surpassed 7 million downloads, will now support digital ID issuance, pensioner “proof of life” verification, and federal arms license renewals.
With this initiative, Pakistan is taking a major step toward digital governance, ensuring secure identity verification and improved public service delivery.
