National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has verified over 95 million Computerized National Identity Cards during its ongoing CNIC re-verification campaign, which has been under way since July this year. A senior official said that NADRA officials informed a meeting presided over by Interior Minister Chuadhry Nisar Ali Khan that the authority has verified 95,025,546 CNICs till date while 3,630 aliens have voluntarily returned their Pakistani identity cards.
He said that during the ongoing campaign, the authority has identified 66,000 intruders as a result of 14 million SMS sent by NADRA to the family heads across Pakistan. The six-month national security related CNIC re-verification drive will be completed within the scheduled time, the meeting was further informed. The official said that the minister directed to put in place a permanent and ongoing mechanism for re-verification of CNICs that should continue throughout the year to block chances of any alien getting Pakistani identity through illegal means.
He said that the minister also issued directives to Directorate of Immigration and Passport and NADRA to dispatch teams for monitoring and ensuring better facilitation for expatriates in countries with higher number of Pakistani citizens for smooth passport and CNIC services.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA's) officials informed the meeting that the agency has arrested 439 proclaimed offenders. Similarly, Islamabad police told that they have arrested over 3,000 proclaimed offenders who were wanted in various cases. The Interior Minister directed the ICT administration for complete elimination of agent mafia in its jurisdiction and taking stern action against the food adulterators and professional beggars. Special Secretary Interior, Chairman NADRA, Director General Immigration and Passport, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad and senior officers from FIA and the Interior Ministry attended the meeting.