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Federal Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik has dispelled the impression of any political involvement in issuance, distribution and activation of watan cards. "It was National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) database, which ensured complete transparency in the whole process. It was not given to Police or Revenue Department to guarantee transparency in this regard," Rehman Malik said while addressing a press conference at Nadra office.
The interior minister said that until Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) requested for documentation of Pakistan economy, Nadra itself could not move forward. "We want to have documentation of country's economy so that tax evasion would be eliminated, but Nadra or Interior Ministry alone cannot do anything on this issue. I will raise this issue in the next cabinet meeting," he added.
Malik held Balochistan government responsible for delay in issuance of watan cards to flood-affected people in the province, saying that the notification of affected areas was responsibility of provincial government and Balochistan government has not sent data to Nadra as yet.
"You have to give us credit for the work we have done so far, as if Nadra database was not available it would have not been possible to prepare over one million cards in such a short time," Malik said. Malik further said that the transparency in issuance of Watan Card, Benazir Smart Card and Cash Card to over two million IDPs of Malakand was acknowledged both locally and internationally. The world's largest biometric database of Nadra will bring complete transparency in the system, he added.
The interior minister said that cheaters should not be linked with any political party, as no political party wanted to help people who do fraud. Malik said that due to hectic efforts of Nadra staff and co-operation of provinces, the government has succeeded in distribution of over one million cards among the flood-affected people. He said that till today 1.047,664 cards were processed, while 1,035,515 cards have been issued so far. 964,949 cards were activated through which about Rs 20 billion has been drawn by beneficiaries, he said.
He said that watan cards were provided to affected people free of cost as Nadra designed it and got sponsorship from VIAS Card. Watan card would give benefit to flood-affected people as all the financial assistance would be given through this card, Malik said, adding that Rs 100,000 promised by the government would be given through this card.
He said that some people were trying to befool the innocent flood-hit people by taking their card after paying Rs 20,000 with the aim to get remaining Rs 80,000. "Affected people who sold their cards should go to Nadra centre, police or DCO in their area or send SMS to block the card and get another one. If any person found indulged in this business would be arrested under forgery", he added.
Replying a question, the minister said that an anti-corruption drive would be launched across the country from next week and a task force would be constituted to monitor corruption in all government departments. Officials found guilty of corruption would be arrested and their images would be made public to make them an example for others, he added.
The minister announced to send ten workers of Nadra on Hajj for making sincere efforts in the launch of watan card. He also announced pride of performance for chairman Nadra. Malik also announced the increase of job quota for women in Nadra from 15 to 25 percent. He also announced a special package for newly married couples in flood-affected areas saying that people who get married by November 15 would be given status of single family and to be provided watan card. He said that widows in the affected areas would also be given status of head of family and would be provided watan card.
The interior minister directed Nadra to ensure the issuance of duplicate Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to journalists free of cost saying that journalists can get duplicate CNIC free of cost, but the facility would be for one time. He announced that journalists would be issued a 100-page passport because they frequently travel abroad and they need bigger passport like businessmen.
He directed the passport and immigration department to issue journalist a 100- page book of machine-readable passports. Malik assured his full support to journalist community in preparing their own small database, saying that Nadra could help press clubs and journalist unions across the country to build database of journalists.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

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