Authorities have uncovered over 250,000 fake Pakistani Computerised National Identity Cards, triggering intensified scrutiny by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). According to officials, the fraudulent CNICs were identified using specialized verification software, which revealed that a majority of the cards were linked to Afghan nationals who had been added to the family trees of Pakistani residents. This development has raised concerns about identity security, border management, and the potential misuse of official documents for illegal purposes.
The individuals involved, primarily connected to families in Pishin, Chaman, and Quetta, were reportedly charged substantial sums by agents who facilitated the illegal issuance of these identity cards. NADRA has begun blocking the fake CNICs and instructed those affected to visit designated offices for verification. Authorities emphasized that failure to complete verification within the prescribed timeframe will result in permanent cancellation of the CNICs, reinforcing the importance of compliance with identity verification protocols.
Pakistan has faced repeated challenges with fake CNICs over the years, particularly in border regions where Afghan refugees have lived for extended periods. In 2016, a nationwide verification campaign was launched after authorities discovered thousands of non-Pakistani nationals, mostly Afghans, had been added to Pakistani family trees. NADRA conducted a comprehensive re-verification initiative using SMS notifications and detailed data checks, which helped identify over 86,000 illegal entries in family records. During the same period, more than 450,000 suspicious CNICs were blocked. The crackdown also exposed internal corruption, resulting in the dismissal of 765 NADRA employees who were found facilitating the issuance of fake identity cards in exchange for financial gain.
Further efforts to secure Pakistan’s national identity database continued in 2021 with the introduction of a new digital verification system incorporating biometric and AI-supported tools. This system enabled a large-scale family-tree verification campaign, reviewing millions of records and detecting nearly 200,000 suspicious entries nationwide. NADRA encouraged citizens to confirm or reject names in their family trees using the 8009 SMS service, which contributed to the removal of numerous fraudulent entries. The recent detection of over 250,000 fake CNICs highlights the ongoing importance of rigorous verification processes and demonstrates NADRA’s continued commitment to maintaining the integrity of Pakistan’s identity infrastructure.
The latest measures reflect a comprehensive approach combining technological tools, regulatory oversight, and public participation to prevent identity fraud. By strengthening verification systems and enforcing compliance, NADRA aims to protect sensitive personal information, enhance national security, and ensure that official identity records remain reliable and trustworthy for both government and citizens.
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