The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has officially ended its identity card-related services at General Post Offices (GPOs) throughout Pakistan, citing low usage and limited public awareness as the main reasons behind the decision.
This marks an early conclusion of a government initiative launched three years ago to make NADRA services more accessible by decentralizing operations.
The initiative aimed to simplify services like CNIC renewals, address updates, and changes in marital status. Under a 10-year agreement with Pakistan Post, dedicated counters had been established at GPOs in major urban centers such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
While the program initially helped reduce crowding at NADRA’s primary service centers, it failed to gain widespread popularity. Officials attributed its limited reach to inadequate promotional efforts, which never gained traction on a significant scale, as reported by Express News.
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As part of the shutdown process, NADRA has instructed GPO staff to return all equipment and submit any service fees collected. Efforts are being made to ensure that applicants whose CNICs are ready for delivery receive their documents before the counters are permanently closed. Around 83 counters across Pakistan’s four provinces and Azad Kashmir have been impacted by this decision.