The federal government has amended the National Identity Card Rules, expanding the definition of biometrics to legally recognize facial and eye scanning in addition to fingerprints as acceptable forms of biometric identification.
Under this legal framework, NADRA has introduced technical facilities for biometric verification based on contactless fingerprints and facial recognition.
According to NADRA, this system is currently available at NADRA registration centers and on the Pak-Identity mobile app, and is being used for biometric verification in the transfer of Islamabad-registered vehicles and online passport applications.
In the future, proof-of-life certificates for federal government pensioners will also be issued under this system, while the scope of these digital services is being expanded in phases.
From January 20, 2026, NADRA will begin issuing facial-recognition-based biometric verification certificates at all registration centers for citizens whose verification through fingerprints is not possible. Wherever such verification is required by an institution, citizens will be able to obtain this certificate from any NADRA registration center by paying a nominal fee of Rs20.
Under this procedure, if biometric verification through fingerprints fails at a service-providing institution, the citizen will visit the nearest NADRA registration center to have a new photograph taken. This photograph will be matched with the image already on record with NADRA. Upon successful verification, NADRA will issue a certificate containing the purpose of verification, the citizen’s recent photograph and the image on record, CNIC number, name, father’s name, a unique tracking ID, and a QR code.
The certificate will be valid for seven days. Citizens will submit it to the relevant institution where biometric verification is required, and the institution will verify it online through NADRA.
In the future, facial-image-based biometric verification certificates will also be available at NADRA e-Sahulat franchises. After the formal launch of the digital ID, this facility will be provided for all services through the Pak-Identity app.
In its statement, NADRA said it is fully prepared to implement this system; however, for its effective application, regulators, relevant government departments, and private-sector organizations have been asked to gradually upgrade their hardware and software in accordance with approved standards.
