The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has informed the Ministry of Interior in its latest annual report that 227 million Pakistanis are now registered in its database, covering approximately 97 percent of the country’s total population. According to spokesperson Shabahat Ali, who elaborated on the figures in a video statement, the authority has significantly expanded its biometric and civil registration coverage during the past year, reflecting steady growth in identity documentation and digital record keeping across the country. The figures place Nadra among the largest biometric databases in the region, underscoring the scale of Pakistan’s national identity management infrastructure.
Providing further details, the spokesperson stated that 31.9 million childbirth registrations have been recorded at union councils, strengthening the foundation of the civil registration system at the grassroots level. Of the total registered citizens, 48 percent are women while 52 percent are men, indicating gradual progress in documentation of female citizens, an area that has historically required focused outreach. The authority also reported an overall 11 percent increase in registrations during the year under review. Notably, childbirth registrations rose by 18 percent, while registrations of women increased by 8 percent, suggesting improved access and awareness regarding identity documentation in different parts of the country.
On the biometric front, Nadra now maintains facial recognition records of 170 million citizens, along with 1.68 billion fingerprints stored in its system. In addition, the database includes seven million retinal scans, further expanding its biometric verification capabilities. These datasets form the backbone of Pakistan’s Computerized National Identity Card system and support a wide range of public and private sector services, including financial inclusion initiatives, voter registration processes, and social protection programmes. The scale of biometric information reflects the authority’s role as a central digital identity institution, with its systems increasingly integrated into service delivery frameworks nationwide.
Institutional expansion has accompanied this data growth. The spokesperson said 938 Nadra registration centres are currently operational across the country. During 2025 alone, 75 new registration centres were established and 138 additional counters were added to improve service delivery and reduce processing times. Alongside physical expansion, digital channels have also gained traction. The Pak ID mobile application now handles more than 15 percent of Nadra’s overall workload, with downloads exceeding 12 million. The app allows citizens to apply for identity documents and update certain records remotely, reflecting a broader shift toward digital service provision under the government’s digitisation agenda. Together, the expanding biometric database, enhanced physical infrastructure and growing use of mobile platforms highlight the continuing evolution of Pakistan’s national identity ecosystem.
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