The Automated Finger Identification System (AFIS) has been activated by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to eliminate duplication and forgery of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). The most modern, state of the art system can check one finger print against seven million finger prints on the Nadra's existing database in just one second.
According to usually reliable sources, the Nadra has achieved unprecedented progress with production of 42.8 million CNICs till January 9.
It so far received 43.9 million applications for the CNICs processing, out of which 42.8 million have been produced while approximately 41.8 million have so far been distributed through different mechanism, which includes post offices, TCS and Nadra's central distribution centres.
For the period from January 3 to 9, a total of 209,998 forms were booked with daily average of 35,000 per day and 191,976 were produced, which included 143,436 as ordinary and 48,540 as urgent.
The Nadra has so far issued 41.8 million CNICs to the citizens. It is receiving approximately 26,000 applications per day for the processing of CNICs across the country.
According to official sources, the Nadra database has more than 60 million Pakistani citizens, including minors, which is one of the most populated databases in the world.
It has more than 200 functional swift registration centres across the country, which are facilitating the citizens in getting their CNICs processed in a hassle-free manner.
To facilitate the citizens of far-flung areas, the Nadra's mobile vans are doing an excellent job by going in these areas and processing and distributing citizens' CNICs.
About 34 new mobile vans are being included in the current fleet to facilitate the citizens of rural areas.
With the issuance of machine-readable passports (MRP), Pakistan has become the first country in the world to issue a passport using both the AFIS and Facial Recognition System (FRS).
Besides, it has also become the first country to use the existing name, photograph, signature etc of the applicant directly from the Computerised National Identity Card Database (CNICD) for making the passport that will eliminate issuance of passports by fraudulent means.