ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has announced the phased rollout of a new Pakistan-made, QR code-based national identity card, replacing the imported microchip used in smart cards.
The new identity card, being introduced from Aug. 14, is manufactured in Pakistan using polycarbonate material and features a secure QR code instead of a microchip.
According to NADRA, the QR code can be scanned using a standard smartphone and the PakID mobile application, allowing authorized users to verify the cardholder’s identity.
The QR code will contain relevant identification information and the cardholder’s photograph. NADRA said the new system is also expected to help reduce human errors when recording details such as names and addresses.
QR Verification for Banks, Telecom Firms and Hospitals
NADRA said software will be provided to authorized institutions to enable identity verification through the QR code.
These institutions will include telecommunications companies, banks, hospitals, Pakistan Railways, police departments and other authorized organizations.
The new card will also feature the family number along with special indicators for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors and citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Names and addresses will be printed in both Urdu and English.
New System to Expand in 2027
NADRA said that from January 2027, the QR code-based card will be introduced across all categories of national identity documents, including the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Juvenile Card.
The Pakistan Origin Card (POC) will also subsequently be shifted to the new system.
NADRA clarified that existing identity cards will remain valid until their stated expiry dates, meaning citizens will not be required to immediately replace their current cards.
The new QR-based system is expected to make identity verification more accessible while reducing reliance on imported chip technology and supporting locally manufactured identity documents.
