Pakistan Unveils QR-Based National Identity Cards in Major Digital Overhaul

By Tanveer Ahmed :

The federal government has formally notified sweeping amendments to the country’s identity card regulations, introducing QR-based verification technology as part of a comprehensive effort to strengthen fraud controls and modernise Pakistan’s digital identity infrastructure.

The National Database and Registration Authority announced that the upgrades, approved under the vision of “One Nation – One Identity,” have been published in the Gazette of Pakistan following amendments to the National Identity Card Rules and the Pakistan Origin Card Rules.

The reforms legally embed Quick Response code verification into identity documents while expanding biometric recognition and updating card formats for key citizen categories, marking a significant step toward a fully integrated digital ecosystem.

QR Code Technology Becomes Legal Standard

A core reform is the statutory introduction of the QR code as a defined security and verification feature. The rules now legally define the QR code as a secure, machine-readable, two-dimensional barcode capable of storing encoded information and converting it into usable identity verification data when scanned.

The amendments further authorise the use of “QR code or any other technological feature” instead of the current microchip system, enabling NADRA to adopt evolving verification technologies without requiring repeated rule changes.

Operationally, this establishes a robust legal basis for quick and secure verification of identity credentials in both offline and online environments, allowing rapid front-end validation while enabling back-end systems to confirm authenticity through trusted exchanges.

Uniform Card Format Introduced

The move will enable all citizens to carry a uniform card format, replacing the currently prevalent two types of national identity cards—one with a microchip and one without. This standardisation is expected to simplify identity verification procedures across public and private organisations.

The QR-enabled capability directly strengthens Pakistan’s Digital ID ecosystem and supports interoperability through the National Data Exchange Layer, which facilitates structured data sharing across government platforms.

Officials stated that the initiative is expected to improve the speed, transparency, and consistency of identity verification across government entities and regulated sectors, reduce manual handling, and lower the risk of fraud and impersonation.

Stronger Fraud Controls

The amendments strengthen the enforcement effect of card suspension by clarifying that where a card is suspended, all verification, authentication and related services linked to that card shall stand suspended immediately. This closes a key risk area by ensuring that suspended credentials cannot continue to be used through digital verification channels or institutional authentication processes.

In addition, the biometric scope has been reinforced through explicit recognition of fingerprints and iris scans within the rules, reflecting a stronger and more modern multi-modal biometric foundation for identity assurance.

Citizen Facilitation Measures

On citizen facilitation, the amendments introduce a major improvement for senior citizens. Where a resident or non-resident citizen has attained the age of sixty years, the rules now provide for issuance of a card carrying a distinct senior citizen logo with lifetime validity. This significantly reduces renewal burden, improves convenience, and reflects a service-oriented approach for elderly citizens.

The amendments also introduce standardised identification for residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir by requiring an inscription indicating “Resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir” in the manner specified by the Authority, thereby ensuring uniform geographic identification on the document.

Updated Card Formats

The schedules have been comprehensively updated through substitution of specimen formats for a wide range of document categories. Updated smart formats now cover resident citizens, overseas Pakistanis, child registration certificates, persons with disabilities, organ donors, combined categories, and AJK residents.

These updated formats visibly incorporate QR codes and enhanced security layouts, standardising a modern identity document architecture across all categories.

NADRA stated that overall, these amendments strengthen the legal and technological foundations of Pakistan’s identity system by enabling secure QR-based verification, reinforcing the integrity of digital authentication services, improving biometric assurance, reducing fraud risk through immediate service suspension controls, and delivering clear facilitation measures such as lifetime validity for senior citizens.

The reforms also advance readiness for integrated digital governance by supporting structured interoperability through the National Data Exchange Layer and a broader Digital ID ecosystem, positioning Pakistan’s identity infrastructure for future technological developments.

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