NADRA Launches Minority ID Drive Across Pakistan

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The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched a nationwide registration campaign to provide legal identity documents to minority communities across Pakistan, reinforcing their access to constitutional rights and government services.

The week-long initiative, branded as “Identity Empowerment,” was launched on August 2, 2025, and will run from August 4 to 11. It aims to ensure that unregistered members of religious minority groups—including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others—receive Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). NADRA emphasized that the effort is part of its commitment to inclusivity and equal treatment under Pakistan’s Constitution. Article 20 of the Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their religion.

According to NADRA, mobile registration vans and local office services will be mobilized nationwide to improve accessibility, especially in underserved urban and rural areas. The initiative is designed to remove bureaucratic and logistical hurdles that have historically impeded minority communities from obtaining legal identity documentation—an essential requirement for voting, accessing education, securing healthcare, and participating in formal economic systems.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar, Chairman of NADRA, stated that the agency has already registered over 4.43 million minority individuals, a milestone previously shared during a 2022 interfaith consultative session. In line with reforms introduced in that year, the authority has waived all fees for first-time CNIC applicants from minority groups. Additionally, NADRA has simplified civil registration processes—such as marriage and divorce documentation—by allowing biometric verification or submission of affidavits in place of more complex legal procedures.

Leaders from Pakistan’s minority communities have welcomed the campaign, citing it as a positive step toward equal citizenship. Senator Kamran Michael, who led a parliamentary delegation on minority rights in 2022, praised NADRA’s ongoing efforts to remove systemic barriers and promote legal recognition for all religious communities.

As part of its broader digital modernization, NADRA is also utilizing platforms such as the Pak ID Mobile Application to complement the registration drive. The app enables citizens to initiate civil registration requests remotely, further easing access.

This campaign signals a renewed national focus on the rights of minorities in Pakistan. By expanding identity coverage and simplifying procedures, NADRA aims to foster an inclusive civic framework that upholds the dignity and legal entitlements of all citizens, regardless of religious background.