NADRA rationalizes fee of CNICs/NICOP within country, abroad

ISLAMABAD, Apr 25 (APP):National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has rationalized pricing (fee) of
Computerized National Identity Card (CNICs) and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)
within country and those abroad.
The decision has been taken in light of directives of
Supreme Court. Subsequently, Federal Cabinet has also approved
rationalized fee structure of CNIC/NICOP.
A notification issued about new fee details of CNIC and
Smart National Identity Card (SNIC)issued on Wednesday revealed:
New CNIC (Teslin) Rs. 0 (First time), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
2150 (Executive).
CNIC Modification (Teslin) Rs. 400 (Normal), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
2150 (Executive).
CNIC Duplicate (Teslin) Rs. 400 (Normal), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
2150 (Executive).
CNIC Renewal (Teslin) Rs. 400 (Normal), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
2150 (Executive).
New Smart NIC Rs. 750 (Normal), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
Rs. 2500 (Executive).
Smart NIC Modification Rs. 750 (Normal), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
Rs. 2500 (Executive).
Smart NIC Duplicate Rs. 750 (Normal), Rs. 1150 (Urgent),
Rs. 2500 (Executive) and Smart NIC Renewal Rs. 750 (Normal),
Rs. 1150 (Urgent), Rs. 2500 (Executive).
Regarding fee detail of NICOP and Smart NICOP for Zone A,
the notification revealed:
New NICOP (Teslin) fee Rs. 4250 (Normal), Rs. 6350 (Urgent)
and Rs. 8450 (Executive).
NICOP Modification (Teslin) fee Rs. 4250 (Normal), 6350
(Urgent) and Rs. 8450 (Executive).
NICOP Duplicate (Teslin) fee Rs. 4250 (Normal), Rs. 6350
(Urgent) and Rs. 8450 (Executive).
NICOP Renewal (Teslin) fee Rs. 4250 (Normal), 6350
(Urgent) and 8450 (Executive).
New Smart NICOP fee Rs. 4600 (Normal), Rs.6700 (Urgent)
and 8800 (Executive).
Smart NICOP Modification fee Rs. 4600 (Normal), Rs. 6700
(Urgent) and Rs. 8800 (Executive).
Smart NICOP Duplicate fee Rs. 4600 (Normal), Rs. 6700
(Urgent) and Rs. 8800 (Executive).
Smart NICOP Renewal fee Rs. 4600 (Normal), Rs. 6700
(Urgent) and Rs. 8800 (Executive).
Similarly, for Zone B the new fee is :
New NICOP (Teslin) fee Rs. 2000 (Normal), Rs. 3200 (Urgent)
and Rs. 4350 (Executive).
NICOP Modification (Teslin) fee Rs. 2000 (Normal),
Rs. 3200 (Urgent) and Rs. 4350 (Executive).
NICOP Duplicate (Teslin) fee Rs. 2000 (Normal),
Rs. 3200 (Urgent) and Rs. 4350 (Executive).
NICOP Renewal (Teslin) fee Rs. 2000 (Normal),
Rs. 3200 (Urgent) and Rs. 4350 (Executive).
New Smart NICOP fee Rs. 2350 (Normal), Rs. 3550 (Urgent)
and Rs. 4700 (Executive).
Smart NICOP Modification fee Rs. 2350 (Normal), Rs. 3550 (Urgent)
and Rs. 4700 (Executive).
Smart NICOP Duplicate fee Rs. 2350 (Normal), Rs. 3550 (Urgent)
and Rs. 4700 (Executive) and Smart NICOP Renewal fee Rs. 2350
(Normal), Rs. 3550 (Urgent) and Rs. 4700 (Executive).
Meanwhile, in his comments on the pricing (fee)
rationalization, a Spokesman of NADRA said the Authority
does not make profit on the issuance of ID card.
However, in fact, an analysis of NADRA’s financial
statement, presented during Supreme Court’s Suo Motu cognizance
revealed that NADRA incurred loss of Rs. 40 per card issued to Pakistanis.
During the proceedings, it was also observed that
higher prices of overseas card (NICOP) were being used to
subsidize the local cards.
In interest of justice on directives of Supreme Court,
the subsidy on local cards has been reduced in order to minimize
prices on NICOP.
However, the new prices ID card in normal and urgent
categories are less than the cost incurred in issuing the card.
Giving further details, the Spokesman said previous
structure of NICOP fee, which was on higher-side, was due to
subsidizing the CNICs and smart CNICs issued to Pakistanis
within the country on low price.
He said high fee was also due to fact that NADRA
incurred costs which are specific to overseas cards i.e running
and operating 14 centers overseas across the world, additionally
incurring costs at 26 foreign Missions and maintaining
high-availability of web-based technology infrastructure
round the clock (24/7) that allows people overseas to apply for
identity documents online anywhere in the world.
Therefore, NADRA incurred an average cost of Rs. 976.56
per card issued to Pakistanis within country and abroad. Whereas,
the CNIC older Teslin card was issued either free of cost or
in Rs. 75.
While, smart card was being issued in different
categories at rate of Rs. 400 (normal) and Rs. 800 (urgent). Thus,
the CNICs and Smart NICs were being issued to Pakistanis within
country greatly on subsidized rates.
In a nutshell, at end of day NADRA received an average
fee of Rs. 936.37 for every card, wherein, average fee received
for a local card comes to Rs. 494 at loss of Rs.40 approximately
per card.
The average fee received for an overseas card came to
Rs. 5,000 which clearly indicated that higher prices of overseas
cards were subsidizing local cards.
In view of above, the Supreme Court was apprised about
higher side of fee of NICOP and subsequent subsidy on identity
card issued within the country. The Honorable court ordered to
rationalize large price disparity between the pricing of cards issued to Pakistani citizens within the country
and those abroad.