Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) is all set to serve as 'debit card' along with being the main source of identity. "The basic aim of preparing CNICs, particularly for women, is to ensure their maximum participation in the socio-economic mainstream of the society," said Brigadier Saleem Moin, Chairman, National Data Base and Registration Authority (Nadra).
In an interview with APP here on Sunday. He said that his department was facing some problems in preparing CNICs for women in NWFP, where only 98 percent of male population was in possession of CNICs while the rest 2 percent is women population.
"Women in these areas (NWFP) are reluctant to get their CNICs prepared due to various reasons", he said, adding that it was only Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) where cent percent population was in possession of CNICs.
In Punjab, he said, only 84 percent male population and 54 percent females possess CNICs, while rest of the females, particularly those living in southern Punjab, are also reluctant to get their identity cards.
The Nadra Chairman said that his organisation had decided to introduce 'Women Day' to facilitate them to get CNICs prepared while mobile teams comprising women workers were being arranged in this regard.
About establishing kiosks for utility bills payment, he said that with the introduction of this facility at Sanda Road here on Saturday, total number of such kiosks had gone up to 22 in the country.
"Nadra plans to spread the network of such kiosks in every nook and corner of the country to facilitate the citizens at their doorsteps," Moin said, adding that more than 140 kiosks would be established all over Punjab during current year.
He said that he had discussed establishing of kiosk machines at all Utility Stores in the country where people would be able to make payment of grocery purchased through CNICs cards, which would turn into a 'debit card' in phases.
He said that without disturbing the existing banking system, the Nadra kiosks, set up mostly in densely populated and lower-income group areas, were also serving as banker for such people where they deposit their daily earnings even in double-digit amounts with the help of CNICs.
"As daily earnings deposit pile up, the CNICs would be used as 'debit cards' at all utility stores where machine could be operated only by putting thumb impression", Nadra Chairman said.
He said that a huge amount of Rs 11 million was deposited by common men in those kiosks all over the country last Saturday.
About computerisation of land record, which is hitherto done by Patwaris, Moin said that Nadra has already introduced the said scheme in three sectors in Islamabad area, and added that his department would be happy if the rest of the provinces would approach Nadra for computerisation of land records.
He said he was proud to say that all projects undertaken by Nadra had proved successful, as the present government had the will to provide hassle-free service to common man in the society.
About fake CNICs, Nadra Chairman said that as a result of stringent measures the practice had been discouraged where 320,000 cases of fake CNICs were returned by Nadra this year, while approximately 200 to 250 cases of fake cards are detected and returned every year.
"This is simple waste of money and time by the applicant of fake cards who fall prey to agents", Moin said, adding that "we have blocked old NICs of applicants trying to prepare fake CNICs".
About preparing CNICs for Pakistanis living in United States, he said that keeping in view their problems, Nadra had introduced 'on-line' facilities for Pakistanis living in US, where they would receive CNICs through DHL courier service within two weeks after their application is received at Nadra.
"More than 0.4 million Pakistanis living in the United Kingdom have already got their CNICs prepared till date", he said, and added that his department had also trained more than 0.3 million members of Union Councils across the country for issuing birth certificates after verifying the facts within their respective constituencies through City District Governments.