In a major facilitation step, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has allowed certain undocumented citizens to obtain Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) without the requirement of a birth certificate.
Under the new arrangement, women above 18 years of age and men above 24 years of age will be eligible to apply for CNICs even if they do not possess a birth certificate. The relaxation aims to assist individuals who have remained outside the formal registration system.
According to official estimates, around 3% of Pakistan’s population is not registered under the government system, and nearly two-thirds of this unregistered segment consists of women.
To address this gap, NADRA has introduced a special facilitation mechanism to ensure that all eligible citizens can be included in the national database.
As per the policy, the birth certificate requirement has been waived until December 31, 2026, for eligible applicants.
However, individuals will still need to fulfill certain alternative verification conditions, which have been designed to accommodate people from diverse and challenging living circumstances.
