National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has confirmed a significant data breach affecting 2.7 million Pakistani citizens. The revelation was made during a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior.
NADRA Chairman, Lieutenant General Munir Afsar, informed the committee that an investigation into the breach led to the dismissal of six officials, including a Grade 19 officer. He also disclosed that some officials had facilitated the issuance of Pakistani identity cards to Afghan nationals.
Committee member Agha Rafiullah raised concerns about accountability, questioning whether those involved in the data theft were still holding positions within NADRA. Afsar clarified that the implicated individuals had been dismissed.
NADRA chairman also highlighted the authority’s operational challenges, particularly in remote areas. He noted that 61 tehsils, primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, lack NADRA offices. Additionally, he discussed budget constraints, stating that a significant portion of NADRA’s budget is allocated to salaries.
To improve accessibility, NADRA has deployed 240 mobile service vans and plans to acquire 90 more, with 75 equipped with satellite connectivity. The authority has also announced its intention to offer free ID cards to citizens for the first time.
