The National Database and Registration Authority has introduced several new features in the latest version of its PakID mobile application, giving users more options for accessing and verifying digital identity documents. The update, released as version 5.8.0, expands what citizens can do through the app and adds tools for document verification and health related biometric checks connected to pilgrimage travel. The release reflects NADRA’s continued effort to turn the PakID app into a single place where citizens can manage and use their identity credentials.
The first change allows users to obtain and store digital identity cards for their spouses and eligible children in addition to their own digital identity card. This means a single account holder can now keep the digital identity documents of family members in one place, rather than each person needing to manage a separate credential. Users can also share these digital cards whenever they need them, which gives families a more convenient way to present identity details when required. The feature extends the app beyond individual use and positions it as a tool that can hold identity information for a household, which may be especially useful for parents who regularly need to present documents for their children.
The second feature is a QR code scanning option intended for document verification. Users can select the Scan QR Code option in PakID to scan digital QR codes printed on B Forms and Identity Card Cancellation Certificates and view the verified information. This gives citizens and anyone checking these documents a direct way to confirm that the details are genuine without relying only on the printed paper. Verification through a scannable code can help reduce the chance of forged or altered documents being accepted, particularly for records such as B Forms that are commonly used for children and family registration, and it lets the person scanning see the information exactly as it is held in the official record.
The third addition is a biometric verification facility for the influenza and meningitis vaccinations required for Hajj and Umrah. Users can complete the biometric verification process directly through the PakID application, bringing this step into the same platform they already use for digital identity. For pilgrims, the ability to complete verification through the app may save time compared with arranging the process separately, and it fits alongside other digital steps that intending pilgrims are already asked to complete ahead of travel, such as medical certification and registration formalities.
NADRA has advised citizens to download the latest version of the PakID app to access these features and use its digital identity services. Users who already have the app installed will need to update it to the latest version to see the new options. The authority has also invited users to suggest additional features and facilities they would like to see in future versions of the application, signalling that further updates may follow based on public feedback. The new release adds to a growing set of services available through the app as NADRA continues to expand how citizens can use digital identity for everyday and travel related requirements.
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