The National Database and Registration Authority has introduced revised rules for the issuance of Computerised National Identity Cards, making signatures optional for first-time applicants in a change that addresses one of the more persistent practical barriers facing illiterate citizens and individuals who are unable to sign during the identity registration process. Under the revised regulations, applicants applying for a Computerised National Identity Card for the first time will not be required to provide a signature, with NADRA stating that in cases where no signature is submitted, the letters NA will be entered in the signature field on the identity card. The change removes what had previously been an ambiguous requirement for applicants who lacked a conventional signature, clarifying how their cards will be processed and issued going forward.
The authority clarified that thumb impressions or any other marks will not be printed as a replacement for signatures on identity cards, adding that thumbprint images will not be used because of concerns related to forgery and misuse. Applicants using the mobile application have also been instructed not to upload thumbprint images during the submission process. The decision to explicitly bar thumbprint printing reflects a considered security position, acknowledging that while thumbprints serve a critical function in biometric verification within NADRA’s internal systems, their presence as a printed element on the physical identity card creates a risk surface for potential misuse and document forgery that outweighs any practical benefit of their inclusion on the card face.
NADRA also stated that any addition or change of signature on a Computerised National Identity Card would require a formal correction request, and that the new measures are aimed at improving transparency and making the identity card issuance process easier and more secure. According to a NADRA spokesperson, an awareness campaign has been launched specifically for illiterate applicants and individuals who are unable to sign, ensuring that affected citizens are informed of the revised process and understand how their identity cards will be issued under the new rules. The signature rule change sits alongside a broader set of recent NADRA policy updates that have also included making first-time Computerised National Identity Card issuance available to applicants without a local government-issued birth certificate until December 31, 2026, under strict family biometric verification conditions, as part of a wider effort to bring the remaining 1.7 percent of Pakistan’s adult population who are currently unregistered into the national identity system before the year closes.
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