ISLAMABAD, July 11 (APP): National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has received over 13,000 complaints where citizens pointed out aliens in their family trees (family record) since inception of CNIC re-verification drive launched from July 1, 2016.
Of these one third are confirmed aliens, Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was informed during a meeting
held here on Monday to review NADRA’s ongoing Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) re-verification drive.
Similarly, the response towards Aliens Reporting Helpline
of NADRA has also been encouraging.
Ch. Nisar, who chaired the meeting, was also informed by NADRA that on basis of information received so far on Helpline, more than 50 cases have been referred to NADRA Vigilance Cell for re- verification and further scrutiny.
The Minister termed overwhelming response of citizens in ongoing CNIC re-verification drive as encouraging and said active participation from citizens highlights importance of this national security drive and also promises its success.
The Minister was informed that even before start NADRA’s SMS service, over 400,000 citizens have checked their family tree (family record) through sending SMS on their own.
A six months CNIC re-verification process would continue across Pakistan as part of national security initiative launched on the directions of the Interior Minister to cleanse NADRA’s database from aliens holding Pakistani CNIC and Passports.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Interior, Special
Secretary Interior, Chairman NADRA and senior officials of
the ministry.
Citizens can text their CNICs by sending an SMS on 8008, and in response NADRA will send a complete family tree of individual from where they can verify their family members record.
NADRA has been specifically ordered by the Minister to make
CNIC re-verification drive simple and smooth for citizens, so
as to make it a successful result oriented drive for achieving
target of removing aliens from NADRA’s database.
The Authority is running a multi-pronged strategy which
includes Data Analysis schemes for verification including
across the board fraud detection and mathematical modeling, utilization of PTA’s data for identification of aliens who have managed to get Pak-identity in past, amnesty scheme, establishment of helpline and family tree intrusion detection through SMS.
Ch. Nisar appreciated role that media is playing in CNIC drive
and said greater awareness of masses through media would positively pay back to make the campaign a success.
He reiterated that CNIC re-verification drive was a national
security drive, aimed at cleansing NADRA’s database from all aliens who had managed to get themselves registered as Pakistanis using various means.
The Minister said re-verification of CNIC across Pakistan was
no doubt a difficult task but it was vital for ensuring security of the state.
He said the drive would create win-win situation for state and therefore nothing can hinder us completing our task within the stipulated period.
Over NADRA’s call centre, which has already started operating for receiving complaints from citizens over alien’s identification, the Minister pointed out, “Secrecy of callers should remain paramount in drive since citizens would be disposing their national duty by providing information to the state institutions over aliens holding Pakistani CNICs and passports.
Meanwhile, Ch. Nisar approved nationalization of three Cessna planes and their inclusion to Ministry of Interior’s Air Wing strength for counter terrorism, and anti-narcotics operational duties.
These Cessna planes were previously funded for operational
duties for Law Enforcement Agencies through US government.
He pointed out that changing security paradigms demand further strengthening of Air Wing of the Ministry and, therefore, directed Air Wing to put up proposals for strengthening of its helicopter fleet post December 2017 – once the US funding for existing fleet would ends.
